May 13, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Grand Valley State overcame a four-run deficit Sunday and stayed alive in the Division II Great Lakes Regional with a 6-4 victory over Ferris State.

No. 4 seed Grand Valley State (36-17) advanced to the championship round to take on top-seeded and fifth-ranked Southern Illinois Edwardsville, the tournament's only undefeated team.

Ferris State (31-17), the No. 6 seed, scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the third inning via the long ball. Ashley Nieman led off the inning with a solo blast, and Katie Kraai delivered a three-run shot with two outs.

Grand Valley State cut the Bulldogs' lead in half in the fourth. Kristin Moleski led off with a double and Elizabeth Smith walked, and both advanced on a deep fly ball. A single by Lisa Preuss and a double by Katie Kring scored the runs.

The Lakers plated four runs, all unearned and all with two outs, in the seventh. Smith's bases-loaded two-run single tied the game, and after a walk filled the bases again, Preuss drove in what proved to be the winning run with a single. A bobble by the Ferris State left fielder on the play allowed another runner to score.

Ferris State brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Stephanie Cole (17-7), who relieved starter Lori Andjelich in the third inning, shut the door.

Grand Valley State's Sarah Holland was 3-for-4, and Nieman was 2-for-3 for Ferris State.

Cole allowed just two hits and did not walk a batter in 4 1/3 innings of work. Ferris State's Holly Bruntjens (14-6), who fanned five after relieving starter Sarah Mueller in the fourth, was tagged with the loss.