Ferris Ranked 10th In The Midwest Region ... AGAIN!

BIG RAPIDS - It's not time to sweat just yet, but Ferris State University bumping its head against an invisible ceiling as it attempts to climb the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Softball Rankings.

For the third consecutive week, the Bulldogs are ranked 10th in the r

egion according to the latest poll released April 28. Again, it's no time to panic as there are still more than enough softball games and opportunities left for head coach Keri Becker's Bulldogs to truly climb the ladder. Ferris, however, seemed to have greatly helped its cause by sweeping No. 17 Saginaw Valley State and splitting with No. 9 Wayne State last weekend in a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheaders.

If Ferris can remain consistent, finish the regular season strong and play its best ball in the GLIAC Tournament then the rankings will take care of themselves.

Ferris, led by senior designated player/pitcher Rhea Flores (pictured) currently is 24-16 overall and 15-9 in the GLIAC.

Check below for the NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings:

This Saturday, the Bulldogs wrap up regular-season play when they travel to Allendale to take on Grand Valley State in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with records as of April 26.

Midwest Region	Division II	In-Region
1. Wayne State (Mich.)	41-10	28-7
2. Ashland	31-11	30-9
3. Lewis	27-11	24-7
4. Indianapolis	32-13	27-7
5. Saginaw Valley State	20-10	16-9
6. Quincy	34-10	31-8
7. Tiffin	27-16	25-13
8. Northern Kentucky	28-15	27-14
9. Northwood	20-14	18-11
10. Ferris State	23-15	21-12

Ferris Remains 10th In Regional Rankings

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University has held steady in the most recent listing (April 19) of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Rankings for softball.

The Bulldogs of head coach Keri Becker remain

ed 10th in the poll (the top eight at the end of the season will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament). This poll shows that Ferris remains in striking distance for a bid to the NCAA Tournament with some key doubleheaders and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in Midland in early May.

Ferris is 20-14 overall and 11-7 in the GLIAC following Wednesday's 2-1 home loss at the FSU Softball Field to Northwood University. The Bulldogs hope to get on a roll beginning this weekend with showdowns against two of the better teams in the GLIAC, the region and the nation. Ferris is on the road to face nationally-ranked Saginaw Valley State University (17th) and nationally-ranked Wayne State University (ninth) in a pair of doubleheaders. The Warriors are first in the region while Saginaw Valley is third.

This is a perfect weekend for the Bulldogs to get on a roll as they are at Saginaw Valley on Saturday and at Wayne State on Sunday. If Ferris can come away with wins this weekend it can greatly strengthen its position in the regional tournament at the time of the year when it wants to be playing its best basketball.

Midwest Region	Division II	In-Region
1. Wayne State (Mich.)	37-8	24-5
2. Ashland	26-10	25-8
3. Saginaw Valley State	19-7	15-6
4. Lewis	23-9	20-5
5. Indianapolis	27-12	22-6
6. Quincy	27-10	24-8
7. Northern Kentucky	24-13	23-12
8. Tiffin	22-15	20-12
9. Northwood	16-11	14-8
10. Ferris State	18-13	16-10

PHOTO CAPTION:

Ferris State's Dana Bowler has already paid dividends in her freshman season pitching for the Bulldogs. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

Ferris Drops 2-1 Decision To Northwood

BIG RAPIDS - Playing against Northwood University, and its ace pitcher Megan Eddy, is fast becoming a pain for Ferris State University's softball team.

The Bulldogs spotted the Timberwolves two runs in the bottom of the first inning and Northwood never trailed en route to a 2-1 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory on Wednesday afternoon at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids. Wednesday's loss spoiled a solid pitching performance by freshman Dana Bowler who held Northwood to just two hits and the two runs (one earned) while she struck out nine.

Northwood center fielder Jamie Swick drew a walk and the next batter, Tiffany Melgoza, belted an RBI double to put the Timberwolves up 1-0. A throwing error led to another run as Melgoza scored for a 2-0 edge.

Ferris finally put some offense on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning as senior center fielder Rachel Wade drove in the team's lone run (junior Colleen Roney scored after she had tripled) on a single. The offense ultimately stalled as Ferris stranded two runners on base after sophomore third baseman Makenzi Peterson flew out to center.

The Bulldogs mustered a couple of hits (a line shot from senior designated player Rhea Flores and a single up the middle from junior catcher Rachel Mueller), but could not score anyone as Eddy held them off in the bottom of the seventh to help NU secure the win.

The loss as a tough one for Ferris which needs to put together some wins coming down the stretch of this season against some tough competition.

To close the regular season, Ferris has the following schedule:

Apr. 24	at Saginaw Valley State *		1:00 PM	Live stats
	at Saginaw Valley State *		3:00 PM	Live stats
Apr. 25	at Wayne State *		12:00 PM
	at Wayne State *		2:00 PM
Apr. 27	at Northwood *		3:00 PM
	at Northwood *		5:30 PM
May. 1	at Grand Valley State *		2:00 PM	Live stats
	at Grand Valley State *		4:00 PM	Live stats

Again, this is a tough schedule to end the season as all of these opponents represent quality. These are all teams in the regional picture Saginaw Valley State, Wayne State and Northwood) or battling to get in the regional picture (Grand Valley State).

The bad news is the schedule is tough to end the season, but the good news is that the schedule is tough to end the season.

These games represent opportunity for Ferris to prove themselves and make their case to be one of the better teams in the region by knocking off quality opponents.

Photo caption:

Ferris State softball coach Keri Becker (left) gives signs to a batter while player Colleen Roney stands on third base during Wednesday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball game at the FSU Softball Field against Northwood. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

Ferris softball team survives trip to Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State University is home to a softball team that doesn't have the great record, but has enough talent to put a scare in opponents.

In four games against Lake Superior this spring, Ferris State University has gotten a couple of scares, but still has emerged 4-0 against the Lakers (a perfect record that was nothing short of essential as the Bulldogs seek to stay in the hunt for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and for positioning relative to GLIAC Tournament seeding and NCAA Division II Tournament seeding. But, those two are well down the line for Ferris.

Monday, the Bulldogs went to the Soo and defeated the Lakers 9-0 in the first game and 6-5 in game two to pull off the sweep as Ferris improves to 20-13 overall and 11-6 in GLIAC

action, On April 4, Ferris swept LSSU 7-0 and 6-5.

In Monday's 9-0 win, Ferris showed its depth as freshman catcher Liz Hamming played and showed a good stick as she batted 2-for-2 with two RBI and a double. Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Dusendang was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. For all the numbers from the game, check the box score, here.

In Monday's second game, sophomore Makenzi Peterson, senior Rhea Flores and sophomore Chelsea Morris each had two hits. Morris had two RBI. Junior shortstop Lynsay Weaver batted 1-for-2 with two runs driven in. For more numbers from game two, visit the FSU Web site for the box score, here.

Wednesday, the Bulldogs host Northwood University in a one-game set to make up for a game earlier this season that was rained out in Big Rapids. The Bulldogs and Timberwolves take the diamond at 3:30 p.m. at Ferris. It's a big game for Ferris as Northwood is playing very well this season and, as of now, is one of the better teams in the GLIAC.

Ferris splits a twinbill against Ashland

Ferris State catcher Rachel Mueller makes a tag for an out at home plate during game two of the Bulldogs' Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series against Ashland University at the FSU Softball Field. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS - With Ashland University coming to town for a softball doubleheader, Ferris State University knew it had its hands full going against one of the top teams in the region and a strong team on the national scene.

The Bulldogs managed to salvage a split with a 6-3 loss to the Eagles in game one before Ferris bounced back to earn a 3-1 win over Ashland in game two of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball series at the FSU Softball Field. The Bulldogs of head coach Keri Becker, now 18-13 overall and 9-6 in the GLIAC this spring. The split keeps the Bulldogs in the thick of a competitive race for softball supremacy in the conference as teams battle for position with the league tournament looming on the horizon in early May.

"We knew that they were on top of the conference and we needed to win both and we settled for a split," said shortstop Lynsay Weaver, a junior from Bay City who prepped at All Saints High School. "But, a split felt good after game two and that now we have a chance to get it rolling this week."

In game one, against the Eagles, Ferris was doing well before it hit a buzzsaw in the fifth inning. Ashland (26-10 overall, 15-5 GLIAC), a team that rolled to two relatively easy wins on Saturday against Grand Valley State University, exploded for five runs in the top half of the inning to take a 5-0 lead. It looked as if AU might do the same to the Bulldogs. Ferris responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the seventh before the Eagles held on for a 6-3 win.

Morgan Kramerich, a freshman left fielder, was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a run driven in. Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Morris was 1-for-3 with a run driven in and senior center fielder Rachel Wade was 1-for-3 with a run driven in and a run scored. Freshman Dana Bowler took the loss for the Bulldogs as she pitched three full innings before being relieved by Rhea Flores.

In game two, senior pitcher Kayle Stevenson picked up the win as she tossed all seven innings, allowed five hits, one run (earned) and two walks. At the plate, Morris quietly continued a solid game as she had one hit in three trips to the plate with two runs driven in. Sophomore second baseman Makenzi Peterson was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Wade and senior second baseman Amanda Harrington also added hits.

"Coach always talks about responsiveness and that you can either take it with you or you can forget about it. We forgot about it," Weaver said. "Our defense played great, our pitching was great and we got the hits when we needed to get them."

In the most recent NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll (April 14), Ashland was ranked second while Ferris was ranked 10th.

There is no rest for the Bulldogs. Ferris is back in action on Monday (April 19) when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula to take on Lake Superior State University in a two-game GLIAC series beginning at 3 p.m.

Ferris Ranked 10th In the Region In Latest Poll

BIG RAPIDS - There remains a lot of softball left to be played this season, but Ferris State University currently is ranked 10th in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings that were released on April 14.

The rankings mean that, as of right now, Ferris is within striking distance of earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament (the top eight teams in the region at the end of the season will qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament). The top two teams host sub-regional tournaments (May 14-16) and the winners of the two sub-regional tournaments (May 21-22) will play in the super regional for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II Championships (May 27-31) which will be played in St. Joseph, Mo.

The current regional rankings show that Ferris still has a lot of work to do to remain in those regional rankings, but also has a lot of opportunities to move up.The Bulldogs have yet to face No. 2 Ashland University, No. 3 Wayne State University and No. 8 Tiffin University (all teams ranked ahead of the Bulldogs in the region). Also, Ferris still has three games to make up against No. 9 Northwood University.

Grand Valley State University, among other programs, is right there with a good record and the potential to move up.

Lots of softball remains to be played for Ferris and others.

Midwest Region	Division II	In-Region
1. Saginaw Valley State	18-4	14-3
2. Ashland	21-9	20-7
3. Wayne State (Mich.)	31-8	18-5
4. Lewis	19-7	16-3
5. Indianapolis	26-11	21-5
6. Northern Kentucky	21-10	20-9
7. Quincy	23-8	20-6
8. Tiffin	16-13	14-10
9. Northwood	12-9	10-6
10. Ferris State	15-10	13-7

Bulldogs Split With Lakers In GLIAC Twinbill

BIG RAPIDS - The two long-time West Michigan rivals hit the diamond against each other for the first time this season as Ferris State University hosted Grand Valley State University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids on Wednesday.

With the GLIAC softball standings so tight (six teams still feeling they have a shot at winning the whole thing), every game of every doubleheader weighs even more heavily during the final few weeks of the regular season. Wednesday, by the time the dust settled (literally and figuratively), the rivals settled for a split as the Lakers were 1-0 winners in game one before the Bulldogs bounced back for a 2-0 victory in game two to salvage a split in a pair of well-played softball contests.

After starting 2-3 in the GLIAC, the Bulldogs have since improved to 7-4 in league action, but are focused only on the next game.

"We look at each game separately and we try not to look back and we really focus on making sure we're always looking forward," junior outfielder Colleen Roney said Wednesday when asked about the way the team has bounced back since the tough early start to the GLIAC schedule with two losses to nationally-ranked Saginaw Valley State University and one to an underrated Northwood University squad. "Every time we go out to a new game we think that we're on top and we're going to look to get ahead. We want to always make sure we're playing our game."

Ferris' Dana Bowler (5-5) and Grand Valley's Katie Martin (9-4) both pitched gems in a first game that saw the teams combine for just seven hits. The difference in the game was a fourth-inning RBI hit by GVSU catcher Carli Raisutis, who drove in the contest's lone run. Martin allowed four hits and struck out seven Bulldogs. It spoiled a solid pitching effort by Bowler, who threw seven innings, allowed three hits, the one run (earned) and recorded 10 strikeouts.

Offensively, senior center fielder Rachel Wade, sophomore first baseman Chelsea Morris, Roney and junior shortstop Lynsay Weaver each had one hit for the host Bulldogs.

In game two, Ferris scored once in the third inning and one more in the fourth inning for all the run support pitcher senior pitcher Kayle Stevenson needed. Stevenson was superb as she allowed three hits, no runs, walked four and struck out two for her sixth win of the season.

Freshman left fielder Morgan Kramerich batted 3-for-3 at the dish, Wade was 1-for-4 with an RBI and junior catcher Rachel Mueller finished 1-for-2 with a run driven in. In all, the Bulldogs posted two runs on six hits with one error while they held the Lakers of 20th-year head coach Doug Woods scoreless on three hits.

With the split, Ferris now is 16-11 overall and 7-4 in the GLIAC while Grand Valley is 20-12 overall and 8-4 in conference action.

Next up, the Bulldogs host Tiffin University in a doubleheader on April 17 beginning at 1 p.m.

Photo by Sandy Gholston