Release courtesy of Matthew Woodbury and the Saginaw Valley State University Media Relations Department

Bigelow's Solo Shot Gives Saginaw a Regional Championship

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State took on the Bulldogs of Ferris State this afternoon in the championship round of the NCAA Division II Softball Midwest Regional #2 Tournament, with the winner going on to face Indianapolis, who had defeated Wayne State University earlier in the day in Midwest Regional #1. Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) got the start for the Cardinals, twirling a two-hit three-strikeout shutout to send SVSU to the NCAA Division II Softball Super Regional on Friday and Saturday.

The first threat of the game came when Ferris State put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the fifth inning following a Nicole Fick (Lapeer, Mich./West HS) error allowing the runner to reach first base, a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second base, and a walk. However, Fulton would buckle down and force a pop-up to the third baseman and a flyout to center field to end the Bulldog threat.

In what looked like a replay in Saturday's game against Northern Kentucky, the Cardinals were no-hit through five innings, before Nikki Bigelow (Grandville, Mich.) took hold of a 1-1 count pitch and drove it off the State Farm sign on the scoreboard in left-center field to give Saginaw Valley their first hit and first run of the game.

A pop-up to second base and a groundout to second base set the stage for Fulton's game-ending and Midwest Regional #2-ending strikeout of pinch-hitter Shannon Roney to send the Cardinals to the Midwest Super Regional against Indianapolis.

Both teams recorded only two hits on the day, with Ferris State's hits coming from Rachel Wade and Lynsay Weaver, while Saginaw Valley's hits came from Bigelow and pinch-hitter Jordan Stuart (Richmond, Mich.).

Ferris State's Kayle Stevenson turned in a final line of 6.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, and one earned run, as she took her first loss of the season, ending the year with a record of 12-1, and ending Ferris State's season with a 35-10 overall record.

Fulton's victory moved her to 18-5 on the season.

As Saginaw Valley was the highest seed remaining in the region, the Cardinals will be awaiting word on hosting the Midwest Super Regional on Friday and Saturday here on the campus of SVSU. The decision will be known sometime Monday evening.