from MGoBlue.comhttp://www.mgoblue.com/softball/article.aspx?id=138218
Phenomenal Freshmen Power Wolverines to Regional Crown
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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #6 Michigan 5, Kent State 0
Records: Michigan (51-6), Kent State (46-12)
Next U-M Game: Fri-Sat., May 23-24, or Sat-Sun., May 24-25 -- vs. Virginia Tech in NCAA Super Regional (Wilpon Complex)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman first baseman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS) went 2-for-2 at the plate, including a six-inning grand slam, with five runs batted in as the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team clinched its fifth consecutive NCAA Regional crown with a 5-0 victory against Kent State on Sunday (May 18) in front of 1,833 fans at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home of Alumni Field.
The Wolverines (51-6) will host Virginia Tech, the winner of the Region 13 championship series, in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional next weekend. Specific game dates and times will be decided by the NCAA based on television availability and announced no later than Monday (May 19).
The Wolverines put runners on base in just three innings -- largely from eight walks -- and scored on a pair of bases-loaded opportunities. Shaw accounted for the entirety of Michigan's offensive statistics, boasting the only U-M hits of the contest while driving in all five runs on a bases-loaded walk and her sixth-inning slam -- Shaw's 10th homer of the season and first in front of a home crowd.
Freshman pitcher Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) tossed her second straight complete-game one-hitter to improve her record to 30-3 on the season. The Wolverine rookie allowed just one Kent State baserunner, fanning 11 batters for her ninth double-digit strikeout performance of the season and first in six games.
Taylor struck out six of the first eight batters she faced until KSU second baseman Heather Duhone broke up the no-hit bid with two outs in the third, curving a liner down the leftfield line. The U-M hurler responded to the hit with a strikeout on five pitches.
Shaw earned Michigan's first hit in similar fashion in the home half of the inning, drilling the ball down the leftfield line, just over the bag and out of reach of the third baseman's glove. Junior pinch runner Megan Gregory (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) moved to third on back-to-back groundouts but could not travel the remaining 60 feet to score.
Michigan pushed across its first run in the fourth. Kent State's Gabrielle Burns walked three of the inning's first four batters to load the bases, and after she forced the second out, the KSU ace walked Shaw in her second turn at the plate, allowing sophomore centerfielder Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) -- who led off with a full-count walk -- to trot home from third for the game-winning run. With the bases still loaded and two outs, freshman pinch hitter Marley Powers (Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS) entered the game and lined out hard to the shortstop.
The sixth inning set up as a carbon copy of the fourth as Kent State walked three of four hitters to kick off the frame, including the latter two on just eight pitches. In her second opportunity of the game with the bases loaded, Shaw worked the count to 2-2 before driving an opposite-field line shot into the bleachers beyond the fence in right. It was Michigan's third grand slam of the weekend and ninth of the season.
Taylor closed the contest in dominant fashion, retiring the last 13 batters she faced in order with five via strikeout. The Wolverine hurler helped her own cause with an assist and a putout -- on a snared liner back to the circle -- and benefited from a couple solid defensive plays from her infield, including a two backhand grabs from junior shortstop Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS).
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