FSU Softball At A Glance: The Ferris State University softball team will return to the diamond this weekend (March 24-25) as the Bulldogs compete in the Wayne State Invitational at Detroit, Mich. The tournament, which is being hosted by Wayne State University, will consist of five games and feature both a championship and consolation contest. Besides Ferris State and Wayne State, the tournament field also includes Hillsdale and Findlay.

WSU Invitational Schedule: The Bulldogs will begin opening round play at the 2007 Wayne State Invitational this Saturday (March 24) versus the Hillsdale Chargers. A 10 a.m. (EDT) starting time is scheduled. Following that contest, FSU will go up against the Findlay Oilers in a 12 p.m. (EDT) contest. Both non-conference outings will be held at the WSU Softball Practice Field. Ferris concludes first-day competition at 3 p.m. (EDT) versus the Wayne State Warriors. In Sunday's (March 25) play, tourney seeds one and four will face one another at 10 a.m. (EDT) as will seeds two and three. A consolation and championship game will be held starting at 12 p.m. (EDT).

The 2007 Season: Ferris State is presently 8-6-0 overall and 0-0-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate. The Bulldogs are currently midst a five-game winning streak after recording a 1-0 non-league victory over Indianapolis (March 10) at the Florida Rebel Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.

Last Week: The Bulldogs were idle last weekend (March 17-18) due to the cancellation of the Great Lakes Region Mini-Showdown at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.

The Coach: Ferris State – Keri Becker (Saginaw Valley State, 1995), 10th season, 290-198-1 (.594) – (13-9-0 vs. Hillsdale, 15-4-0 vs. Findlay, 21-20-0 vs. Wayne State). Becker, the all-time winningest coach in Ferris State Softball history, has guided the Bulldogs to consecutive (1998-99) NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament appearances. The 1998 squad placed third nationally while the 1999 team set a school record for single-season victories (46 total). Becker has twice been recognized as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) Coach of the Year (1997 and 2003).

The Series: Ferris State is 42-29-0 versus Hillsdale, 15-4-0 against Findlay, and 37-79-0 versus Wayne State.

35th Season – The 2007 campaign represents the 35th season of varsity competition for the Ferris State Softball program. The Bulldogs are 647-605-3 overall (.517) since the program’s inception in 1973. During that period, FSU has compiled 14 20-plus win seasons, including three consecutive (1997-99)?40 or more victory campaigns.

A Season Ago – The Bulldogs posted a 2-2-0 record at the 2006 Wayne State Invitational (3/25-26) with the victories coming on a pair of 8-0 decisions over Findlay.

Unblemished – Sophomore pitcher Amanda Jager (Kalamazoo/Comstock) is 3-0 in the circle to date this season with a team-leading 1.53 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. She registered a 5-11 record with a 3.54 earned run average in 20 appearances last season.

Scoring Machine – Ferris State has outscored its opponents by 17 runs (63-46) in its initial 14 contests this season, which includes a 14-4 margin in the fifth inning. A season ago following their first 14 encounters, the Bulldogs were outscored by 14 runs (76-62). Ferris has limited the opposition to 3.29 runs per game this season after allowing 5.43 runs at this time last season.

Productive Bat – Sophomore catcher Krystle Bailey (Wyoming/Rogers) has registered a team-best five multi-hit games in 14 outings this spring, which includes a three-for-three hit effort against Indianapolis (3/10) at the Florida Rebel Tournament. Bailey finished fourth among the Bulldogs’ 2006 leaders with 10 multiple-hit games.

Good Start – Ferris State’s 8-6-0 start this spring represents the program’s best since the 2000 season when the Bulldogs won nine of their initial 14 contests. Ferris compiled a 5-9-0 record last season in its first 14 outings.

A Welcome Arm – Sophomore pitcher Holly Bruntjens (Gladstone) is 3-1 this season with a 1.75 ERA in 32.0 innings. A transfer from Saginaw Valley State, Bruntjens didn’t play in the 2006 season due to the NCAA Transfer Rule.

Did You Know? – Amanda Jager has registered at least one base hit in 10 of her 12 games played in this spring. Jager has strung together a pair of five-game hitting streaks (3/3-5 and 3/7-9). She’s currently midst her second five-game hitting string and is batting .400 (6-15) with five extra-base hits (three doubles).