Grand Rapids Reporter

The Ferris State University softball team secured its first victory of the season on Tuesday, February 4, in Hawaii. The Bulldogs managed a split on their second day of competition, defeating the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers 7-4 in Honolulu before losing to Humboldt State with a score of 6-1.

In their opening game against Nebraska-Kearney, Ferris State took an early lead by scoring five runs in the first inning and added two more in the fifth. The Bulldogs registered seven hits compared to six by the Lopers. First baseman Alexis Kozlowski and outfielders Emma Gillard and Maddie Gkekas each contributed two hits. Kozlowski and Gillard both drove in two runs.

Emma Gillard hit a home run for Ferris State, while Kozlowski, Gkekas, and Cecelia Bell each recorded doubles. Newcomer Ella Covill-Marter claimed the win after pitching three and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Cecelia Bell earned a save by giving up just two hits without any runs over three and one-third innings, striking out two batters and walking one.

In the subsequent game against Humboldt State, Ferris State was held to a single run in their final at-bat during the seventh inning as Humboldt scored once in the first inning, three times in the third, and twice more in the sixth. Humboldt State achieved ten hits while limiting Ferris State to just one.

Abby Meyer provided FSU's lone hit, with catcher Paige Antcliff scoring a run and outfielder Bailey McCalister contributing an RBI. Pitcher Rylie Haist worked for two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Bell pitched another three innings with one run allowed on four hits alongside two strikeouts. Covill-Marter finished with one and one-third innings of scoreless pitching without allowing any hits.

Ferris State will conclude their trip to Hawaii on Friday, February 7, when they face Hawaii-Hilo at 4 p.m. Eastern Time before playing Lewis (Illinois) later that evening at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.