Ferris State Upsets Saginaw Valley State 2-1 In GLIAC Softball Tourney Opener

The Ferris State University softball team continued to maintain its recent high level of play on the diamond as the Bulldogs opened action at the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Softball Tournament by pulling off a 2-1 upset victory over Saginaw Valley State this Friday (May 6) at Northwood University's Fisher Stadium in Midland, Mich.

All of the scoring in the conference tourney contest occurred in the first inning as the sixth-seeded Bulldogs scored twice on three hits to go with a SVSU error.  With one out, senior outfielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South) and junior third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids) delivered back-to-back singles.  Junior first baseman Chelsea Morris (Jenison), who was tabbed as the 2011 GLIAC Player of the Year and was a first-team All-GLIAC selection as well, singled to left field which scored Colleen Roney with the game's initial run.  On the play, Makenzi Peterson would also cross home plate as a result of a SVSU outfielder Natalie Wellman's throwing error. 

Saginaw Valley State, which was limited to just three base hits by FSU sophomore pitcher Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.), closed to within 2-1 in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a leadoff home run off the bat of second baseman Ashley Coffin over the right centerfield fence.

Bowler would keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard the rest of the way in improving her season record to 15-9.  The FSU hurler struck out four SVSU batters and walked two in the complete-game performance.  Jade Fulton (24-8) took the loss for the Cardinals despite totaling eight strikeouts and walking none. 

Colleen Roney and Chelsea Morris each recorded two of Ferris State's seven hits in the outing.  Each team also stranded four runners on base apiece.  

Ferris State, which improves to 22-21 overall this season, will now take on second-seed Ashland in a winner's bracket matchup of the double-elimination conference tournament this afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. (EDT).  Ashland advanced with an opening-round 4-2 decision over Wayne State this morning.