Michigan Softball: Michigan takes down Michigan State again in five innings

from MGoBlue.com
http://www.mgoblue.com/softball/article.aspx?id=135684

Nine-Run Second Inning Boosts U-M Past Michigan State

April 26, 2008
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Old College Field)
Score: #6 Michigan 11, Michigan State 3 (5 innings)
Records: U-M (43-4, 15-1 Big Ten), MSU (25-24, 7-9 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, April 27 -- DH vs. Northwestern (Wilpon Complex), Noon

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team knocked out three home runs amidst an explosive nine-run second inning en route to an 11-3 run-rule victory over intrastate rival Michigan State on Saturday (April 26) in front of 727 fans at Old College Field. The Wolverines' victory in five innings marked their fifth consecutive run-rule decision.

Michigan's lineup combined for 10 hits -- its 13th double-digit hit effort of the season -- and three U-M players posted multi-hit performances as senior second baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), freshman first baseman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS) and junior Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) registered a pair of hits apiece, including a home run each, and combined for nine of Michigan's 10 RBI.

While freshman pitcher Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) did not have her strongest outing from the circle, she did enough to claim her 23rd win of the season and become the winningest rookie pitcher in U-M program history. Taylor fanned five Spartan batters and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks.

After going down 1-2-3 in the opening frame, the Wolverines used their second turn at the plate to unload their most explosive single-inning showing of the season, producing nine runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batsman to quickly put the game out of reach. Findlay accepted a leadoff walk on four pitches, giving her sole possession of the U-M career record in the category (188), and after a successful fielder's choice from sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) and a groundout, Michigan had a pair of runners in scoring position. Shaw took a crack at the second pitch she faced and lifted it into the dirt pile beyond left-centerfield, using the three-run bomb to claim her eighth home run of the season.
With the bases cleared and still one out, sophomore catcher Roya St. Clair (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) initiated the second wave of the U-M offensive attack with a shallow poke to leftfield. Ewing wasted little time before bringing her home, going yard for the first time this season -- fourth time in her career -- on a deep ball to leftfield that hit the top of the wall and bounced over. The Spartans quickly loaded up the bases over the next three at-bats, and Findlay made them pay, taking the first pitch deep over the scoreboard in left-centerfield for her 18th home run and third grand slam of the season. The Wolverines have posted a grand slam in four of the last five games.

Michigan State scored runs in the home halves of the second and third innings to narrow the gap to six runs and, for a time, erase U-M's run-rule advantage. The Spartans accepted a walk to begin a two-out rally in the former frame, and with a baserunner on first Jessica Bracamonte ripped an RBI double to the base of the wall in right-centerfield to put her team on the board. MSU's third-inning tallies also came with two outs, as Bianca Mejia lifted a towering two-run blast over the wall in deep centerfield.

U-M recaptured its eight-run cushion in the top half of the fourth as Viefhaus, with Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) and Samantha Findlay both in scoring position, blooped a double to leftfield. The Spartans had shifted their entire outfield to the right in the middle of Viefhaus' at-bat, and the Wolverines third baseman, in response, placed a perfect base hit to the open space near the foul line.
With the run-rule margin back in place, Taylor retired six of the next eight batters she faced, giving up a walk and a base hit early in the fourth before setting down five straight. With the series sweep, Michigan extended its winning streak to 14 consecutive games.

The Wolverines (43-4, 15-1 Big Ten) will return home tomorrow (Sunday, April 27) for a first-place battle with Northwestern (31-10, 15-1 Big Ten) at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home to Alumni Field. Both games of the noon doubleheader will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.