Ferris State Softball Advances To GLIAC Tourney Title Game & Final Day With Split On Saturday

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad advanced to the 2026 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament's final day as the Bulldogs earned a split on Saturday (May 9) in Crown Point, Ind.

The Bulldogs fell in the winner's bracket final to top-seeded Saginaw Valley State by an 8-5 score in the first game of the day on Saturday, but bounced back to beat Purdue Northwest 7-4 in an elimination game to stay alive in the tournament.

With the win over the Pride, the Bulldogs will now earn a berth in the title game on Sunday (May 10) versus SVSU. The game is slated for a 12 p.m. (ET) start. The Bulldogs need a win to force the deciding if necessary contest at 2:30 p.m. and can secure the league title with back-to-back wins over the Cardinals.

In Saturday's first game against Saginaw Valley State, the Bulldogs fell behind 5-1, but answered with four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game back up. However, SVSU produced three runs in the fifth and kept FSU at bay the rest of the way for the victory. The Cardinals finished with eight hits and the Bulldogs had three.

Third baseman Emma Herremans had a hit and drove in two runs for the Bulldogs while designated player Molly Versluis produced a hit and senior second baseman Jadyn Joseph tallied a hit and knocked in a run.

In the circle, freshman Katie Shuboy tossed four and two-thirds innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Addison Gillard pitched one and one-third innings of scoreless ball, allowing a single hit with three walks and two K's.

In game two, the Bulldogs jumped in front of Purdue Northwest quickly, scoring twice in each of the first two innings along with once in the third to build a 5-0 lead. PNW responded with four runs in the fourth, but the Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the fifth and held on for the triumph. Both teams had nine hits overall.

Joseph had three hits and four RBI's along with a double for the Bulldogs while first baseman Alexis Kozlowski doubled and drove in a run. Outfielder Emma Gillard also produced an RBI for the Bulldogs while catcher Addison Wangler had two hits and scored twice.

Ferris State's Cecelia Bell threw five and one-third innings, surrendering only four earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks for her 14th win of the year. Shuboy claimed the save by hurling one and two-thirds innings, giving up no runs on a single hit.

With the split, the Bulldogs now own a 37-19 overall record and have won 13 of their last 14 games overall.

Sunday's title matchup with Saginaw Valley State will be streamed live on a pay-per-view basis by FloCollege.