Tononi's Home Run Lifts FSU Over GVSU

Big Rapids, Mich. - A three-run homer from freshman shortstop Michelle Tononi in the top half of the seventh inning lifted the Ferris State University softball team to an exciting 4-3 victory over nationally-ranked archrival Grand Valley State in the winner's bracket of the 2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament on Friday (April 27) evening in Findlay, Ohio.

The 20th-ranked Lakers led the Bulldogs 3-1 heading into the final inning of the second game on the day for both teams in the conference tournament. However, back-to-back singles from outfielders Lindsey Pettit and Stephanie Dusendang put two runners on the bags and Tononi followed with a three-run shot to center field.  The Bulldogs then held GVSU to a single-hit in the bottom of the inning to pick up the win.

Ferris State improved to 2-0 in the double-elimination tournament and will next square off against Wayne State in round three on Saturday (April 28) at 10 a.m. (ET).  The Warriors also won two games on Friday and is the only other unbeaten team in the tournament along with FSU.

After a 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Ohio Dominican in Friday's first game, the fifth-seeded Bulldogs came back to beat the top-seeded Lakers despite being outhit 9-6 for the contest.

GVSU score the game's first run in the third inning and added another in the fifth to take a 2-0 advantage.  The Bulldogs trimmed the margin back to a single run on an RBI from senior first baseman Chelsea Morris in the top of the sixth, but the Lakers tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning to take the 3-1 lead into the seventh.

In addition to Tononi's home run, the Bulldogs also received a double from second baseman Lainee Clay.  Tononi had two of FSU's six hits in the game and drove in three of the four runs.  Senior Makenzi Peterson also tallied a hit along with Pettit, Dusendang, Clay and Tononi.

Junior Dana Bowler came back from a complete-game showing in the first contest of the afternoon to throw another seven innings versus Grand Valley State.  She allowed only three runs on nine hits and had six strikeouts with two walks.

Hannah Santora pitched six innings for the Lakers while giving up three runs on five hits while Katie Martin pitched a single inning and allowed a single run on one hit.  They combined for four strikeouts.

Briauna Taylor paced the Lakers at the plate with four hits, including a triple and an RBI.  Nellie Kosola also tripled for GVSU while Martin had two RBI's in the setback.

With the win, Ferris State improved to 30-22 overall this season and GVSU fell to 42-12 on the season.

A victory over Wayne State on Saturday will put the Bulldogs into Sunday morning's (April 29) championship contest.

Visit this link for complete GLIAC Tournament Results:

GLIAC Tournament Website