Bulldog Softball Awaits NCAA Selection Announcement After GLIAC Tourney Run Ends

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team saw its 2013 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament run come to an end on Saturday (May 4) as the Bulldogs fell 3-2 to eighth-seeded Findlay in an action-packed contest at the Marathon Diamond Complex in Findlay, Ohio.

The Oilers scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning, but FSU battled back in the bottom half of the inning and pinch runner Jordan Maxwell eventually reached third base.  With two outs in the bottom of the inning, sophomore shortstop Michelle Tononi nearly came up with the game-tying RBI on an infield hit as Maxwell crossed the plate, but was called out at first base on a controversial call from the first base umpire to end the contest.

With the loss, the Bulldogs now must await the official announcement of the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament selections, which will be unveiled on Monday (May 6) morning at 10:30 a.m. (ET) via www.ncaa.com.  FSU was ranked seventh in the region entering the conference tournament and the top eight selections in the final rankings will receive NCAA Tourney berths on Monday. Findlay was ranked eighth just behind FSU prior to the win over the Bulldogs and the ninth-place team, Northwood, posted an 0-2 mark in the tournament.

Findlay took an early 1-0 lead in Saturday's elimination game with a single run in the top of the first inning, but the Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to grab a 2-1 advantage.  Freshman Alyssa Smith started the run with a single thru the right side and advanced to second on senior Lainee Clay's single to left field.  After Smith advanced to third on a wild pitch, junior Amy Dunleavy doubled to right center and both Smith and Clay scored as FSU totaled two runs on three hits in the frame.

Those, however, would be the only runs the Bulldogs could produce.  Findlay tied up the game in the top of the second and neither team was able to score again until the Oilers struck in the seventh on a two-out, RBI single to center field from Nicole Motuza.

Both teams had opportunities as the Oilers stranded three runners on base in the top of the fifth and the BUlldogs did the same in the bottom of the sixth.

Overall, the Bulldogs totaled seven hits in the contest while Findlay came up with eight on the day.  

Bulldog senior pitcher Dana Bowler tossed all seven innings for FSU and finished with seven strikeouts and four walks.  Meanwhile, Findlay's Brittany Dauterman threw five and two-third innings while allowing seven hits and two runs with five K's and four walks.  UF's Tawna Whited picked up the win in relief as she hurled the final one and one-third innings and gave up only a single hit along with a walk.

Dunleavy and Rachael Gabrielson both doubled for the Bulldogs while senior Lindsey Pettit came up with a sacrifice hit.  Smith tallied a game-high three hits for Ferris State while Clay had two hits.  Tononi also had a hit for the Bulldogs in addition to Dunleavy and Gabrielson.

Both Motuza and Tori Allen had two hits each to lead the Oilers as Findlay improved to 29-14 overall on the year with the victory.  UF advanced to face Wayne State in another eliminiation game at the conference tournament.

With the loss, the Bulldogs now hold a 29-14 overall mark to date this season after posting a 1-2 record in the GLIAC Tournament.

To view Monday's NCAA selection announcement, please visit this link:
www.ncaa.com