FERRIS STATE SOFTBALL COACH REACHES ANOTHER MILESTONE

Keri Becker Records Her 300th Career Win At Ferris State

Keri Becker earned her 300th career coaching win in the Bulldogs' conference home win over Ashland last Monday (April 16).

The Bulldogs posted the historic win for Becker in a six-inning contest after claiming a 5-3 victory over Ashland in the opening game of the GLIAC twinbill.

Becker, the all-time winningest coach in Ferris State softball history, has compiled a 306-203-1 (.601) career mark in 10 seasons at FSU.

The Sanford, Mich., native began her coaching career at Ferris in 1997 and promptly lead the Bulldogs to a 40-20-0 overall record en route to receiving 1997 GLIAC Coach of the Year honors. Becker, who guided FSU to 40-plus win seasons in her first three years, coached the 1999 squad to a school-record 46 victories (46-18-0 overall).

During her tenure, Becker's teams have averaged over 30 victories per season. She has directed the Bulldogs to an overall conference title (2000), three GLIAC Tournament titles (1999, 2000 and 2005), three NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional appearances (1998, 1999, and 2005), and two NCAA-II Championship appearances (1998 and 1999). Ferris State captured back-to-back NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional crowns (1998 and 1999). The 1998 team finished third at the NCAA-II Championships in Pensacola, Fla., which marked the highest national placing ever for a FSU women's athletics team at that time. The Bulldogs would follow with a sixth-place performance at the 1999 NCAA-II Championships in Salem, Va. The 2005 squad was the conference overall co-champions.

Prior to the start of the 2007 season, Becker ranked 51st among the NCAA-II's winningest active coaches in winning percentage (.595) and was tied for 57th place in career victories (282).

In 2003, she was honored as the GLIAC's Coach of the Year after missing the entire season due to military committment.

Becker garnered her 100th career win in 1999 (March 27) with a 14-5 five-inning decision over Wayne State at the Wayne State Invitational and then notched her 200th victory in 2002 (April 10) as a result of the Bulldogs' 15-1 five-inning conference victory against Lake Superior State.

Ferris State, which is presently 24-11-0 overall and 10-4-0 in the GLIAC this season, will play the Mercyhurst Lakers this Friday (April 27) in a GLIAC doubleheader at Erie, Pa. Game one is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) with the second game to begin around 5:30 p.m. (EDT).