ALLENDALE, Mich — The Grand Valley State Softball team opened play in the NCAA Midwest Regional with an 8-4 win over Ferris State at home on Friday.
The game was orignally scheduled for 2:30 P.M. but didn’t start until 4:30 P.M. beacuse the first game of the day was delayed by rain. Missouri-St. Louis beat Southern Indiana 2-1 in the 1st game at the GVSU Softball field.
GVSU (40-6) struck first in the nightcap on an RBI fielders choice from Katie Martin and a 2-run single from Emily Jones in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Ferris State (29-15) answered back in the top of the 6th with RBI’s from Amy Dunleavy, Lindsey Pettit (Portland) and Michelle Tononi to tie the game at 3.
The Lakers blew the game open with 5 in the bottom of the 6th, Brittany Taylor blasted a 2-run home run to left-center, Martin had a 2-run double and Kayleigh Bertram added an RBI double. Ferris State got an RBI single from Morgan Kamerich in the top of the 7th but no more.
Hannah Santora (22-2) went the distance on the mound for the Lakers allowing 8 hits, 2 earned runs, walking 1 and striking out 5. GLIAC pitcher of the year Dana Bowler (21-9) took the loss for the Bulldogs going 5.2 innings allowing 12 hits, 8 earned runs, walking 1 and striking out 6.
GVSU will play Missouri-St. Louis (40-11) Saturday at 11 A.M. while Ferris State will play Southern Indiana (29-21) in an elimination game at 1:30 P.M.
