From MGoBlue.comFinal-Inning Thriller Hands Softball Split With Wildcats
April 27, 2008
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #12 Northwestern 2, #6 Michigan 1; #6 Michigan 3, #12 Northwestern 2
Records: Michigan (44-5, 16-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (32-11, 16-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Games: Wednesday, April 30 -- DH vs. Florida State (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Battling through doubleheader that fully lived up to billing, the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim the second game and earn the series split against No. 12 Northwestern on Sunday afternoon (April 27) in front of 2,491 fans at Alumni Field in the Wilpon Softball Complex. Michigan lost the opener 2-1 but recovered for a 3-2 win in the back end of the twinbill.
With the split, Michigan and Northwestern remain deadlocked atop the Big Ten Conference standings each with their additional loss coming against Iowa. In the even that both teams sweep their respective series next weekend, they will share the conference title while the tournament host will be decided by the fourth tiebreaker -- a coin flip.
Freshman pitcher Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) earned the victory in game two, improving her record to 24-2 with a three-hit, six-strikeout performance during seven innings pitched. After giving up a pair of runs in the second, the Wolverine rookie finished with five straight shutout innings and set down the final 11 batters she faced. Taylor also picked up a pair of strikeouts in an inning of work in the opener after entering in relief in the seventh. Despite a solid 10-strikeout performance, sophomore Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) took the loss in game one after allowing two runs on nine hits and a walk.
Senior second baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), who was the hero in game two, and junior shortstop Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) each went 3-for-6 from the plate. Sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) was the only other Wolverine batter to post multiple hits on the day with a pair of base knocks in the nightcap.
Michigan combined for just four runs against Northwestern ace Lauren Delaney, who posted 18 strikeouts on the day. U-M, however, boasted numerous scoring opportunities but could not capitalize with runners on base, leaving 20 stranded between the two games and squandering three bases-loaded situations. The Wolverines loaded the bases a fourth time in the bottom half of the nightcap's seventh inning, and they finally capitalized.
After a leadoff single up the middle from Ewing, senior leftfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) sent a bouncing grounder to third base, where the Wildcats' Robin Thompson misplayed the hop to allow both runners to reach safely. Sophomore centerfielder Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS), with an 0-2 count, loaded the bases with a perfectly-placed slap bunt that sprung 10 yards toward the circle before spinning backward to home plate. Sophomore rightfielder Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) walked on five pitches to bring in a run -- narrowing NU's lead to one -- before her sister, Samantha, got ahold of the 1-2 pitch in the subsequent at-bat and fired it through the leftside gap for the game-winning, two-RBI base hit -- her eighth game-winning tally of the season.
The Wolverines had also loaded the bases -- with one out -- in their previous turn at the plate after a pair of walks and a Viefhaus single, but Delaney struck out the final two batters she faced to end the threat. Freshman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS), who had one of the strikeouts, put together an outstanding at-bat, fouling off six or seven hard-hit balls to the left before fanning on the 12th pitch.
Northwestern led for most of the game after establishing early control with a pair of runs in the second inning. Leadoff hitter Nicole Pauly made solid contact with the 2-2 pitch and sailed it high over the fence in rightfield. The Wildcats scored its second run in controversial fashion when Thompson yanked a hard grounder down the leftfield line that appeared to pass third base well in foul territory. The home-plate umpire ruled the ball fair, however, and Thompson was awarded a stand-up double and pinch runner Aly Euler came in from second base to score.
The afternoon's first game, despite 15 combined hits between the team and 21 batters left of base, ultimately came down to a pitcher's duel as the three hurlers allowed just three runs and collectively rung up 24 total batters.
After a pair of quick opening frames, the Wildcats took the game's first lead -- one they would not relinquish -- in the top half of the third, manufacturing a two-out run on three hits, including back-to-back base knocks to the left side. With a pair of runners on, Eric Dyer rapped a hard liner through the gap, allowing Tammy Williams to race home from second base. The Wolverines had a potential play at the plate as Giampaolo's throw reached simultaneously, but, without time for reaction, St. Clair was unable to play as the ball hit her and bounced back down the third baseline.
U-M threatened in the bottom half of the frame, rallying with two outs to load the bases -- on an error, a walk and a hit batsman -- for power-hitter Samantha Findlay, who worked the count full before striking out.
After three straight 1-2-3 half innings, Northwestern struck again in the top of the sixth with a pair of hits to kick off the inning and what would prove to be the game-winning tally. With two runners in scoring position after the leadoff knocks and a sacrifice bunt, Kelly Quinn lined an RBI single to leftfield, scoring Pauly from third base.
Michigan responded in the home half of the inning, putting its first run on the scoreboard to cut the NU lead to one. Angela Findlay initiated the rally from the leadoff spot, driving a hard base hit into left centerfield. After a pair of strikeouts, Shaw accepted a walk to put two runners on for freshman designated player Marley Powers (Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS), who dropped a well-place hit into shallow rightfield, scoring Findlay from second base. It was Powers' 14th RBI of the season -- in her 16th at-bat.
Both teams loaded the bases in the final inning. After a Northwestern leadoff double and subsequent single induced the Wolverines' to make a pitching change, Taylor earned a quick strikeout before walked the second batter she faced to load the bases. The Wolverine rookie set down the final two Wildcats to get out of the jam. In the home half of the inning, Michigan put three on base after back-to-back singles and a walk, but the Northwestern ace followed suit with a strikeout -- on three pitches -- to end the threat.
The Wolverines (44-5, 16-2 Big Ten) will host a non-conference mid-week slate against Florida State on Wednesday (April 30). The game will start at 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home of Alumni Field.
April 27, 2008
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #12 Northwestern 2, #6 Michigan 1; #6 Michigan 3, #12 Northwestern 2
Records: Michigan (44-5, 16-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (32-11, 16-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Games: Wednesday, April 30 -- DH vs. Florida State (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Battling through doubleheader that fully lived up to billing, the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim the second game and earn the series split against No. 12 Northwestern on Sunday afternoon (April 27) in front of 2,491 fans at Alumni Field in the Wilpon Softball Complex. Michigan lost the opener 2-1 but recovered for a 3-2 win in the back end of the twinbill.
With the split, Michigan and Northwestern remain deadlocked atop the Big Ten Conference standings each with their additional loss coming against Iowa. In the even that both teams sweep their respective series next weekend, they will share the conference title while the tournament host will be decided by the fourth tiebreaker -- a coin flip.
Freshman pitcher Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) earned the victory in game two, improving her record to 24-2 with a three-hit, six-strikeout performance during seven innings pitched. After giving up a pair of runs in the second, the Wolverine rookie finished with five straight shutout innings and set down the final 11 batters she faced. Taylor also picked up a pair of strikeouts in an inning of work in the opener after entering in relief in the seventh. Despite a solid 10-strikeout performance, sophomore Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) took the loss in game one after allowing two runs on nine hits and a walk.
Senior second baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), who was the hero in game two, and junior shortstop Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) each went 3-for-6 from the plate. Sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) was the only other Wolverine batter to post multiple hits on the day with a pair of base knocks in the nightcap.
Michigan combined for just four runs against Northwestern ace Lauren Delaney, who posted 18 strikeouts on the day. U-M, however, boasted numerous scoring opportunities but could not capitalize with runners on base, leaving 20 stranded between the two games and squandering three bases-loaded situations. The Wolverines loaded the bases a fourth time in the bottom half of the nightcap's seventh inning, and they finally capitalized.
After a leadoff single up the middle from Ewing, senior leftfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) sent a bouncing grounder to third base, where the Wildcats' Robin Thompson misplayed the hop to allow both runners to reach safely. Sophomore centerfielder Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS), with an 0-2 count, loaded the bases with a perfectly-placed slap bunt that sprung 10 yards toward the circle before spinning backward to home plate. Sophomore rightfielder Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) walked on five pitches to bring in a run -- narrowing NU's lead to one -- before her sister, Samantha, got ahold of the 1-2 pitch in the subsequent at-bat and fired it through the leftside gap for the game-winning, two-RBI base hit -- her eighth game-winning tally of the season.
The Wolverines had also loaded the bases -- with one out -- in their previous turn at the plate after a pair of walks and a Viefhaus single, but Delaney struck out the final two batters she faced to end the threat. Freshman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS), who had one of the strikeouts, put together an outstanding at-bat, fouling off six or seven hard-hit balls to the left before fanning on the 12th pitch.
Northwestern led for most of the game after establishing early control with a pair of runs in the second inning. Leadoff hitter Nicole Pauly made solid contact with the 2-2 pitch and sailed it high over the fence in rightfield. The Wildcats scored its second run in controversial fashion when Thompson yanked a hard grounder down the leftfield line that appeared to pass third base well in foul territory. The home-plate umpire ruled the ball fair, however, and Thompson was awarded a stand-up double and pinch runner Aly Euler came in from second base to score.
The afternoon's first game, despite 15 combined hits between the team and 21 batters left of base, ultimately came down to a pitcher's duel as the three hurlers allowed just three runs and collectively rung up 24 total batters.
After a pair of quick opening frames, the Wildcats took the game's first lead -- one they would not relinquish -- in the top half of the third, manufacturing a two-out run on three hits, including back-to-back base knocks to the left side. With a pair of runners on, Eric Dyer rapped a hard liner through the gap, allowing Tammy Williams to race home from second base. The Wolverines had a potential play at the plate as Giampaolo's throw reached simultaneously, but, without time for reaction, St. Clair was unable to play as the ball hit her and bounced back down the third baseline.
U-M threatened in the bottom half of the frame, rallying with two outs to load the bases -- on an error, a walk and a hit batsman -- for power-hitter Samantha Findlay, who worked the count full before striking out.
After three straight 1-2-3 half innings, Northwestern struck again in the top of the sixth with a pair of hits to kick off the inning and what would prove to be the game-winning tally. With two runners in scoring position after the leadoff knocks and a sacrifice bunt, Kelly Quinn lined an RBI single to leftfield, scoring Pauly from third base.
Michigan responded in the home half of the inning, putting its first run on the scoreboard to cut the NU lead to one. Angela Findlay initiated the rally from the leadoff spot, driving a hard base hit into left centerfield. After a pair of strikeouts, Shaw accepted a walk to put two runners on for freshman designated player Marley Powers (Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS), who dropped a well-place hit into shallow rightfield, scoring Findlay from second base. It was Powers' 14th RBI of the season -- in her 16th at-bat.
Both teams loaded the bases in the final inning. After a Northwestern leadoff double and subsequent single induced the Wolverines' to make a pitching change, Taylor earned a quick strikeout before walked the second batter she faced to load the bases. The Wolverine rookie set down the final two Wildcats to get out of the jam. In the home half of the inning, Michigan put three on base after back-to-back singles and a walk, but the Northwestern ace followed suit with a strikeout -- on three pitches -- to end the threat.
The Wolverines (44-5, 16-2 Big Ten) will host a non-conference mid-week slate against Florida State on Wednesday (April 30). The game will start at 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home of Alumni Field.
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