HAMMOND, Ind. — Purdue Northwest (23-11, 12-6 GLIAC) remained unbeaten at Rush Physical Therapy Field this season after sweeping both games of Saturday's softball doubleheader against Ferris State (12-29, 3-15 GLIAC) by final scores of 6-4 and 2-1.
With the pair of victories, PNW improved to 7-1 all-time in home games against Ferris State. The Pride clinched the season series over the Bulldogs and improved to 12-5 overall in the all-time series between the two teams.
GAME 1: PURDUE NORTHWEST 6, FERRIS ST. 4
PNW jumped all over the Bulldogs with five runs as Ferris State's starter Kristina Baar struggled in the first inning and was pulled early.
Amanda Noblett's (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) two-run single highlighted the scoring as four straight Pride hitters reached with two outs in the frame.
Emma Hill (Holmes Beach, Fla./Cary-Grove (IL)) earned the win and improved to 3-2 in the circle. She finished with two earned runs allowed on six hits while posting three strikeouts.
Abbie May (LaSalle, Ill./Saint Bede Academy) came on in relief to notch her first save of the season.
Ferris State would close the gap in the fifth inning after a pair of RBI singles cut PNW's lead to one, 5-4. The Bulldogs got on the board in the second inning on a pair of unearned runs.
In the next half inning,
Madison Schultz (Lafayette, Ind./Faith Christian) delivered the big hit with a hard line-drive double to the right-center gap.
Selena Michko (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central), who led off with an infield single, motored around the bases to score all the way from first and put the Pride ahead for good.
Schultz went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a walk. Michko, Noblett and
Aubrey Shroyer (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon) had the other three hits as the visitors outhit the Pride by a 7-5 margin in both games.
FSU's Paige Kortz, Kylie Winkels and Ali Magiera each recorded two hits.
GAME 2: PURDUE NORTHWEST 2, FERRIS ST. 1
Selena Michko's (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) two-run home run proved to be the difference in the nightcap as
Gabby Paliska (Palos Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East (Wisconsin-Green Bay)) struck out seven over four scoreless innings of one-hit relief to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
After
Allison Arnold (Tucson, Ariz./Naperville North) was plunked by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the fourth, Michko stepped up next and sent a moonshot that cleared the road beyond the left-field fence. Michko continues to lead the GLIAC in home runs after running her season total to 12.
Maddison Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) started in the circle and tossed three innings in the no-decision. She allowed six hits and was charged with the run after allowing back-to-back singles to open the top of the fourth. That's when Paliska took over and the Bulldogs' lone run crossed on a bases-loaded walk with two outs.
Ferris State stranded eight runners in the second game before Paliska retired the final six batters she faced, which included four strikeouts.
Ashley Bravo (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) (2 for 3) led the Pride with two hits, while Michko, Noblett and
Kara Aloisio (North Aurora, Ill./Yorkville) each logged a base knock.
FSU's starter Aryn Gallacher took the loss and fell to 2-12 in the circle.
UP NEXT
PNW is scheduled to host Northwood tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader at Rush Physical Therapy Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE PRIDE
For all the latest information on Purdue Northwest Softball, please visit PNWathletics.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Pride (@pnwathletics / @PNWSoftball) on Twitter. You can also find the Pride on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
