Ferris State Drops Two Saturday Softball Games In Illinois

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team dropped two games on Saturday (Feb. 28) in day two play at the Bearcat Classic in Marion, Ill., falling to Missouri-St. Louis by a 12-4 score in the opener before a 6-2 setback to host McKendree in the finale.

The Bulldogs were outhit 14-5 in the opener by UMSL. FSU scored first with a run in the opening inning before the Tritons responded with 10 runs in the third. Ferris State answered with three runs in the fourth before Missouri-St. Louis added two in the bottom of the frame to account for the final margin.

Outfielder Ava Gardner had two hits for the Bulldogs while shortstop Jayden Marlatt along with catcher Brenna George and first baseman Alexis Kozlowski each had one. Marlatt doubled and knocked in two runs and Gardner homered for FSU. She had an RBI as did George.

The Bulldogs' Cecilia Bell tossed two and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits with a walk. Sally Leask pitched one and one-third innings, giving up a single earned run on five hits with a strikeout.

In game two, McKendree grabbed the early lead with a run in the second and then finished with five runs in the seventh after FSU had taken a 2-1 lead with single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. The Bearcats produced five hits while the Bulldogs had six.

Garnder came up with two hits for FSU as did Breanna Blair, who doubled. Both Emma Gillard and Addison Wangler knocked in runs and had sacrifices for FSU along with Marlatt.

Addison Gillard pitched six and two-thirds innings for the Bulldogs with five hits allowed. She walked five and struck out three. Katie Shuboy tossed one-third of an inning of scoreless ball with a single walk.

The Bulldogs will close out the trip to Illinois on Sunday (March 1) with a final game against Lincoln (Mo.) starting at 11 a.m. (ET).