FSU Softball At A Glance: The Ferris State University softball team will be involved exclusively in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play as the Bulldogs compete in three doubleheaders this week on the diamond. Ferris will go up against the Wayne State University Warriors this Thursday (April 12) at the WSU Softball Field in Detroit, Mich. Game one is slated to begin at 3 p.m. (EDT) with the second game to following 20 minutes after the conclusion of the opener. The Bulldogs then return home to entertain the Ashland University Eagles this Saturday (April 14) at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich. A 1 p.m. (EDT) start time is slated for the first game. FSU will then wrap up its four-game homestand Sunday (April 15) as the University of Findlay Oilers provide the opposition in a twinbill. The opening game will commence at 12 p.m. (EDT).

The 2007 Season: Ferris State is presently 14-9-0 overall and 2-2-0 in the GLIAC. The Bulldogs opened conference play with a pair of road losses to Grand Valley State (March 28) in Allendale, Mich., before notching a pair of home victories against Lake Superior State in Ferris' 2007 home-opening series (April 1) at Big Rapids.

Last Week: Cold weather forced cancellation of the Bulldogs’ conference doubleheaders at Hillsdale (April 6) and at Wayne State (April 7). The twinbill at Hillsdale has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 17 while the makeup date for the doubleheader at Wayne State is this Thursday (April 12). FSU was originally scheduled to host Wayne State on April 12 in a non-conference doubleheader at Big Rapids.

The Coach: Ferris State – Keri Becker (Saginaw Valley State, 1995), 10th season, 296-201-1 (.595) – (22-21-0 vs. Wayne State, 20-12-0 vs. Ashland, and 17-4-0 vs. Findlay). 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 38-80-0 versus Wayne State, 20-14-0 against Ashland, and 17-4-0 versus Findlay.

35th Season – The 2007 campaign represents the 35th season of varsity competition for the Ferris State Softball program. The Bulldogs are 653-608-3 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.

Live Game Stats: Live game statistics for all 2007 Ferris State softball home games is now available by going to this address – http://www.ferris.edu/sports/sofball/2007sked.htm and clicking on the GameTracker link. The link is provided by College Sports Television (CSTV), which can be accessed at www.cstv.com.

Best For Last – Senior first baseman Amber Bergman (Howard City/Tri-County) has already established personal single-season career highs at Ferris State in base hits (nine), runs scored (six), doubles (one), RBIs (three), at bats (21), and putouts (65) this season in nine outings. She has compiled three multiple-hit games, including a three-for-four hitting performance with three RBI’s against Findlay (3/24) at the Wayne State Invitational in Detroit, Mich.

Krystle Clear – Sophomore catcher Kystle Bailey (Wyoming/Rogers) is batting 82 points higher this spring to date than a season ago at this time. Bailey has batting .344 (21-61) in 20 games this season after hitting for a .262 average (17-65) in 23 contests last season.

Seventh Shutout – The Bulldogs’ 14-0 conference home win over Lake Superior State (4/1) represented the team’s seventh shutout this season in 23 encounters. Ferris also registered seven shutouts a season ago in its initial 23 games. The Bulldogs have a 14-9 overall mark this campaign compared to producing an 11-12 overall ledger a season ago.

Scoring Machine – The Bulldogs have accumulated 107 RBIs in 23 outings this season and have five players with double-digit RBI totals. Junior third baseman Katie Kraai’s (Zeeland) 20 RBIs leads the team while sophomore pitcher-outfielder Sarah Mueller (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) has driven in 15 runs. The two have combined for 32.7% (35-107) of the team’s RBI production this spring.

Fine Start – Sophomore pitcher Holly Bruntjens (Gladstone) is currently 6-2 in the circle this season with a team-best 1.38 ERA in 56.0 innings. A transfer from Saginaw Valley State, Bruntjens posted a 5-2 mark in March.

Four Score – Senior first baseman Laura Crower (Midland) belted her first home run of the 2007 campaign with a third-inning four-run blast in the Bulldogs’ 5-0 home game-one decision over Lake Superior State (4/1). Crower, who has 10 career roundtrippers, is one shy of tying Anne Bentley’s (1997-00) fourth-place 11 career home runs total.

Closing In – Sarah Mueller, who has 28 hits in 76 official plate appearances this spring, is six base hits away from equalling her 2006 season total of 34 in 126 at bats.

Nearing A Milestone – Katie Kraai needs two more base hits to reach the 100 hits mark in her career. Kraai has totaled 98 career hits in 383 at bats in a 124-game span.