FSU Softball At A Glance: The Ferris State University softball team will begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play this week with a pair of doubleheaders. The Bulldogs square off against their West Michigan archrivals the Grand Valley State University Lakers this Wednesday (March 28) at the GVSU Softball Field in Allendale, Mich. Game one is set for a 3 p.m. (EDT) start. Ferris will then entertain the Lake Superior State University Lakers this Sunday (April 1) in the Bulldogs’ 2007 home opener at the FSU Varsity Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich. The first game is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. (EDT).

The 2007 Season: Ferris State improved to 12-7-0 overall and is 0-0-0 in the GLIAC to date. The Bulldogs had their season-high nine-game winning streak snapped last Sunday (March 25) as a result of a 5-4 eight-inning non-conference loss to host Wayne State in the championship game of the Wayne State Invitational in Detroit, Mich.

Last Week: The Bulldogs compiled a 4-1 record in the two-day (March 24-25) Wayne State Invitational in Detroit. Ferris State advanced to the championship game of the 2007 Wayne State Invitational.

The Coach: Ferris State – Keri Becker (Saginaw Valley State, 1995), 10th season, 294-199-1 (.596) – (9-13-0 vs. Grand Valley State, 21-1-0 vs. Lake Superior 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 29-69-0 against Grand Valley State and 63-18-0 versus Lake Superior State.

35th Season – The 2007 campaign represents the 35th season of varsity competition for the Ferris State Softball program. The Bulldogs are 651-606-3 overall (.518) 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 – Ferris went 0-2 versus Grand Valley State (4/9) as a result of suffering 6-2 and 4-0 conference losses to the Lakers in Big Rapids. FSU was 2-0 against Lake Superior State (4/18) with 4-0 and 12-4 (five inn.) victories over the Lakers at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

GLIAC Openers – The Bulldogs are 2-5 in GLIAC-opening contests dating back to the 2000 season. Ferris has dropped its last two conference openers, which includes a 2-1 setback at Northwood a season ago (4/1). FSU sports a 6-8 mark in league-opening twinbills dating back to 2000.

Home Openers – Ferris State has won three of its last seven home openers since the 2000 campaign. Last season (4/9), the Bulldogs dropped a 6-2 league decision to Grand Valley State. FSU is 7-6-1 in home-opening doubleheaders since 2000.

Impressive Performance – Sophomore outfielder-pitcher Sarah Mueller (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) hit for a team-best .722 average (13-18) in the five games of the 2007 Wayne State Invitational last weekend (March 24-25). She finished the tourney with five extra-base hits (three doubles), a team-high tying eight RBIs and a squad-best eight runs scored. Mueller recorded multiple hits in the last four games of the tourney, which included a five-for-five hitting performance versus Findlay (3/24). She also tossed a complete-game one hitter and had two base hits in the Bulldogs’ 4-0 triumph over host Wayne State (3/24).

WSU Invite All-Tourney Team – Sarah Mueller and sophomore shortstop McKenzie West (Jenison) were both named to the eight-member 2007 Wayne State Invitational All-Tournament Team. West finished the two-day tourney with a .588 batting average (10-17) while compiling a team-high four doubles and knocking in five runs.

Streak Ends – Ferris State’s nine-game winning streak was snapped last Sunday (March 25) as the Bulldogs lost a 5-4 eight-inning decision to Wayne State in the championship game of the Wayne State Invitational. FSU, which went 4-1 at the WSU Invite, outscored its opponent 65 to 16 in those nine contests and had double-digit run totals in four of the first five innings. Ferris won 10 straight games last season (4/19-29).

Double Vision – Junior third baseman Katie Kraai’s (Zeeland) 10 doubles in 19 games this spring matches her single-season career high. She totaled 10 second-base hits in 49 outings during her 2005 freshman year.

Hitting Machine – Sarah Mueller’s present team-high 10-game hitting streak marks a personal carer best, eclipsing her six-game hitting string set last season (4/21-28). Mueller is batting .543 (19-35) in those 10 encounters with five multiple-hit games and 11 RBIs.