FEATURE: Ava Gardner’s Breakout Freshman Campaign Helps Signal Bright Future for Rising Ferris State Softball Program
By Sandy Gholston
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Like few first-year Bulldogs before her, Ava Gardner opened plenty of eyes during an outstanding rookie softball campaign for Ferris State.
A Hudsonville native, Gardner capped her debut collegiate season by earning GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors along with first-team All-GLIAC and all-region recognition — accomplishments rarely achieved by a first-year player.
"When I first got here, I was excited to play college softball. I was even more excited to be part of the culture and the team we have here," Gardner said. "I've really loved being here at Ferris."
Recently completing an accomplished 57-game freshman season, Gardner's production ranked among the top freshman performances in recent program history and immediately established her as one of the conference's most dangerous young hitters.
"We really worked on our approaches at the plate. That's been a big focus for our entire team," Gardner said. "Coming in as a freshman, I didn't necessarily have that as my focus. It helps to have that now."
She added, "Coach (Jake Schumann) has really taught us a lot about focusing on what you're looking for, and I know that's been really helpful for my at-bats."
Gardner arrived at Ferris State as part of a talented freshman class that accelerated the Bulldogs' resurgence, giving Ferris State a youthful core capable of competing now while building toward even bigger goals ahead. The left fielder slid into a talented lineup in the No. 3 spot — surrounded by strong hitters, including junior Alexis Kozlowski in the No. 2 slot and freshman Emma Herremans batting cleanup.
The potency of the team's lineup during a 37-win campaign helped the Bulldogs bat .304 as a team, including .324 in GLIAC play.
Each person in the lineup plays a role.
"I know if I get out or if I don't have a solid at-bat, the next girl behind me is going to pick me up," Gardner said. "So, that's awesome having a great lineup from top to bottom."
Under Schumann, the program has strung together a series of strong recruiting classes that have Ferris State positioned as a program on the rise.
Gardner was one of several first-year Bulldogs who made an immediate impact. Joining her in that freshman class was pitcher Katie Shuboy, Herremans, Brenna George, Molly Versluis, Addison Gillard, Sophia Helm and Kennedy Wangler.
Gardner is the latest Bulldog to win GLIAC Freshman of the Year during the last five seasons, joining Kozlowski and senior infielder Jadyn Joseph.
"It's amazing. I am so glad I'm here," Gardner said. "This is great – great girls on the team, great coaching staff. I love it here. We've focused on toughness, and being ready to play to win games. We want to come out and be the best team we can possibly be."
The 2026 Bulldogs, Team No. 52, have left their mark. Ferris State's 37 wins represent the most for the program since 1999. The second-place finish is the best since 2013 and its appearance in the GLIAC Tournament championship game was the first since 2012.
With a roster featuring multiple young players in key roles, the Bulldogs appear positioned to remain among the GLIAC's top contenders looking to 2027 and beyond. Gardner's emergence is a major reason why optimism surrounding the program continues to grow.
"It seems like the sky is the limit for us," Gardner said. "So, it's exciting to think about our future. We have so much good going on with this program. When we string it all together, we're going to be unstoppable."