MUELLER RECEIVES NFCA GREAT LAKES REGION ACCOLADES

Ferris State Softball Player Named To Second Team

Sophomore Sarah Mueller was named a second-team All-Great Lakes Region pick by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) recently announced its All-Region softball teams and garnering second-team 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Great Lakes Region accolades was Ferris State University's sophomore pitcher-utility player Sarah Mueller (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia).

Mueller's selection represents the third consecutive year in which Ferris State has had a first or second-team representative. She was among 14 players to receive second-team kudos and was one of 16 individuals from a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-member institution to earn All-Great Lakes Region laurels. The GLIAC had six individuals earn first-team plaudits.

The 2007 All-GLIAC First-Team honoree led Ferris State with a .342 batting average this season in 48 contests. She recorded team highs in hits (54), at bats (158), runs scored (34), doubles (16), slugging percentage (.563), stolen bases (13), and on base percentage (.423). Mueller, who was the chosen as the GLIAC Softball Player of the Week (March 26), registered a squad and career-best 15 multiple-hit games, which included nine two-hit outings, to go with a team second-place nine multi-RBI game performances.

In the field, Mueller compiled a 12-8 pitching mark with a 1.61 earned run average in 121.2 innings. She started 18 of her 23 appearances and posted 13 complete games. The right-handed thrower notched a team-high tying five shutouts while tallying 68 strikeouts and 21 walks. Mueller limited the opposition to a .228 batting average.

Mueller also etched her name among Ferris' all-time single season leaders this spring. The left-handed batter's 16 doubles tied for the second most in FSU's annals while her season batting average (.342) and hits total (54) both tied for 19th place. In pitching, she was 12th in lowest earned run average (1.61), tied for 15th in most wins (12), and 21st in most strikeouts (68).

Mueller, who recently garnered Daktronics, Inc., All-Great Lakes Region First-Team accolades, presently ranks 11th on FSU's career leaders chart in batting average (.310), tied for 14th in home runs (six), tied for 16th in doubles (22), and tied for 17th in stolen bases (18). Among the school's all-time pitching leaders, Mueller is 10th in complete games (32), earned run average (1.87), and victories (24). She ranks 11th in both winning percentage (.545) and strikeouts (155) while being listed 12th in innings pitched (269.1).

The Bulldogs wrapped up the 2007 campaign at 31-17 overall and were 14-6 in the conference regular-season play. Ferris State made its fifth NCAA-II Regional Tournament appearance in the program's history this spring.