The Purdue Northwest Softball team dropped both games of their home-opening doubleheader against Ferris State on Saturday afternoon, falling 7-1 in Game 1 before suffering a 6-5 setback in Game 2.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (16-12, 2-4 GLIAC), Ferris State (18-13, 4-2 GLIAC)
• Location: Hammond, Indiana - Dowling Park
• Attendance: 100

Game 1
The Breakdown

• Ferris State used steady offense throughout the game to secure a 7-1 victory in the opener.
• The Bulldogs scored in four different innings, including a four-run sixth to break the game open.
• Purdue Northwest was limited to four hits while striking out seven times at the plate.
• Senior Olivia Hernandez (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic) drove in the lone run for the Pride with an RBI single in the second inning, tying the game at 1-1 at the time.
• Freshman Gracie Jensen (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) recorded a double and scored the team's only run, while freshman Charli Westerfield (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) and senior Amanda DeBoer (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian) each added a hit.
• Ferris State responded after the early tie with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a solo home run in the fifth to take control.
• The Bulldogs added two more home runs in the sixth inning, including a three-RBI double by Brenna George to extend the lead.
• Senior Hailie Charmat (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) took the loss in the circle, allowing seven runs (six earned) over 5.2 innings.
• Junior Hannah Rafferty-Flatter (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South) and sophomore Abbey Bond (Saint John, Ind./Andrean) combined to finish the game with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
• Ferris State pitcher Cecelia Bell earned the complete-game win, holding the Pride to one run.

Game 2
The Breakdown

• Purdue Northwest jumped out to an early lead but could not hold off a late Ferris State rally in a 6-5 loss.
• The Pride tallied 12 hits in the contest, with multiple players contributing to the offensive effort.
• Junior Kylie Dugan (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison) led the way with three hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs.
• Freshman Sylvia Mudis (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) added two hits, including a triple and a solo home run, finishing with two RBIs.
• Jensen contributed a hit and an RBI, while Westerfield recorded two hits and scored a run.
• Sophomore Jordyn Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) started in the circle, allowing five runs over five innings.
• Sophomore Abbey Bond (Saint John, Ind./Andrean) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
• Purdue Northwest plated three runs in the first inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Dugan, Jensen and Mudis.
• The Pride added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, with Dugan delivering another RBI single and Mudis hitting a home run to extend the lead to 5-1.
• Ferris State began its comeback in the sixth inning, scoring four runs, including a three-run home run by Jadyn Joseph to tie the game.
• The Bulldogs took the lead in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly, scoring the eventual game-winning run.
• Bell earned the win pitching the final 1.1 innings for the Bulldogs.
• Despite putting runners on base late, Purdue Northwest was unable to complete the comeback.

Up Next

• Purdue Northwest continues GLIAC play as they host Davenport on Sunday, March 29. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1:00 PM CT at Dowling Park in Hammond, Indiana.