April 13, 2026
Ferris State softball coach Jake Schumann earns 600th career victory, Bulldogs top GVSU in doubleheader matchup
Ferris State University softball capped off a memorable day at home on Apr. 11 with sweep over long-time rival Grand Valley State University, tallying a historical milestone for head coach Jake Schumann who reached his 600th career victory.
Schumann has guided the Bulldogs for four years. He also served as the head coach at Florida International University (2011-14), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2007-11), Texas A&M Kingsville (2003-07) and Carl Albert State College (2001-03).
The Bulldogs rallied in both games of the doubleheader against the Lakers after an impressive 6-5 comeback in eight innings in the opener and another come-from-behind victory in game two that finished 7-5.
GVSU held an early lead in the opener that ballooned to 4-1 heading into the sixth inning, but a persistent effort by Ferris State turned the contest around. The Bulldogs went on a 4-2 to run streak, with three runs coming in the bottom of the seventh to force an extra inning.
Ferris State got a walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth via an RBI single from Molly Versluis, which scored Ella McDonald to account for the winning run. Overall, the Lakers had 10 hits and FSU finished with eight.
Outfielder Emma Gillard had three hits and three RBI's for the Bulldogs, including a home run. FSU also got two hits and an RBI from left fielder Ava Gardner and a double along with an RBI from shortstop Jayden Marlatt.
In the circle, FSU's Cecelia Bell claimed her ninth win of the campaign, throwing in all eight innings. She allowed five runs on 10 hits with two walks and a strikeout.
The Bulldogs also had to rally in game two as Grand Valley State once again surged in front 4-1, this time in the third inning.
However, Ferris State tied the game up with a run in the third and two more in the bottom of the fourth and exploded for three more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run homer from Gillard and held the Lakers to a single run in their final at-bat for the win.
The Bulldogs outhit GVSU 12-8 in game two with Gillard driving in a game-high four runs on a pair of hits.
First baseman Alexis Kozlowski tallied three hits and also knocked in a run with a run scored while catcher Brenna George had two hits and an RBI. Gardner finished with two hits via a double and a home run while scoring one.
The Bulldogs' Katie Shuboy earned the win in game two, throwing four and two-thirds of an inning. She gave up only a single earned run on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Ferris State improved to 23-16 overall this season and 9-5 in conference action, while posting an impressive five wins in their last six contests. The team was slated to close out this past weekend against Purdue Northwest, but the doubleheader was canceled due to inclement weather, with a tentative makeup date set for May 3.
With that, the Bulldogs are preparing for a road stint in a pair of doubleheaders on Apr. 18 at Wayne State and clash against the conference leading Saginaw Valley State on Apr. 19.