The Ferris State University softball squad, which kicks off the 2024 season this weekend, has been picked to finish fourth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Preseason Coaches Poll announced yesterday.

The Bulldogs tallied 22 total points in finishing in the middle of the seven teams in the preseason listing as voted on by the league's member head coaches.

In front of FSU was Grand Valley State in first place with 34 points and four first-place votes followed by Saginaw Valley State with 33 points and three top mentions. Purdue Northwest came in third with 25 points followed by FSU with 22. Behind the Bulldogs was Parkside in fifth place (12), Davenport in sixth (11) and Wayne State in seventh (10).

The Bulldogs will begin the 2024 campaign with increased expectations as they begin year two under head coach Jake Schumann.

Schumann, who took over the program just prior to the start of the 2023 season last spring, welcomes back nine returnees from a year ago while adding talent and depth with the additions of 10 newcomers as part of his first incoming class.

The Bulldogs concluded the 2023 season with their most wins in seven years under Schumann's direction. FSU reached the GLIAC Tournament last season and finished in the top four of the league standings during regular-season play.

Ferris State finished regular-season play a year ago by winning three of its last four contests and five of the final eight games overall.

FSU's returnees this season include the squad's only senior in veteran starter Aryn Gallacher. Two other pitchers with experience from last season also are back in sophomores Catherine O'Donohue and Sophie Wisniski.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' position players back in the mix include sophomore Jadyn Joseph, who was the GLIAC Freshman of the Year a season ago. Junior third baseman Brooklyn Verbeek also returns after playing in 46 games a year ago while Abby Meyer saw action in 41 contests during the 2023 season. Junior outfielder Maddie Gkekas appeared in 23 contests.

Overall, Ferris State welcomes back three All-GLIAC selections from last season in Gallacher along with Joseph and O'Doohue.

The Bulldogs open the 2024 season this weekend (Feb. 2-4) with four games at the Railsplitter Invitational hosted by Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate Tenn. FSU will then compete in the Music City Invitational in Smyrna (Tenn.) on Feb. 16-18 before closing out the opening month of the season at the Blue Ridge Battle Feb. 23-25 in Evansville, Ind.

Ferris State will also compete at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games in Florida on its annual spring break trip March 3-9 before taking on Lewis (Ill.) in regional action on March 19 to open the home season. The Bulldogs begin conference play in Big Rapids on March 23 versus Saginaw Valley State with the squad's first six GLIAC contests at home.