from MGoBlue.comhttp://www.mgoblue.com/softball/article.aspx?id=136458
Findlay Sisters Deliver at Crunch Time for Win at PSU
May 3, 2008
Site: State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion Field)
Score: #6 Michigan 2, Penn State 2 (10 inn.)
Records: Michigan (47-5, 17-2 Big Ten), Penn State (34-21, 6-11 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, May 4 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), Noon
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Headlined by its sister combination of sophomore rightfielder Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) and senior second baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored twice in the top of the 10th inning, breaking a scoreless tie to defeat Penn State 2-0 on Saturday (May 3) at Nittany Lion Field. The Findlay duo belted out back-to-back solo home runs to bring an end to the Wolverines' longest game of the season and keep U-M atop the Big Ten Conference standings.
Michigan collected 10 hits on the day -- its 15th double-digit hit tally of the season -- but struggled to score, leaving 10 stranded, including seven in extra innings. While the Findlays stole the show with their homers, three Wolverine batters posted multi-hit efforts as senior leftfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS), sophomore pitcher Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) and freshman first baseman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS) all went 2-for-4 to lead U-M from the plate.
Nemitz and freshman Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) earned the combined shutout from the pitching circle with a pair of masterful efforts. Taylor (26-2) claimed the victory in relief, striking out three while allowing a pair of hits through 3.1 innings. Nemitz tossed 6.2 shutout innings in the start, fanning six PSU batters and giving up two hits before coming out with a runner on third in the seventh.
After putting a pair of runners on base in the preceding three frames, the Wolverines finally pushed their first run across with none on in the 10th. PSU earned two quick outs at the top of the Michigan order before Angela Findlay got ahold of the second pitch she saw and carried it high over the rightfield fence for the game-winner. Older sister, Samantha, responded in kind with a long bomb over the fence in left center for her 20th home run of the season -- just one shy of her own single-season school record. It was the second time in their two seasons together that the Findlay sisters registered back-to-back homers.
With the two-run cushion in place, Taylor posted a 1-2-3 bottom half of the frame, forcing a fly and a ground out before fanning the final PSU batter on four pitches to end the contest.
Both teams threatened in the extra innings, combining for eight hits in the final three frames. Michigan put runners into scoring position in the seventh, eighth and ninth -- with just one out in the latter two -- and sent a runner racing home in the eighth but to no avail. Junior Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) led off the inning with a lofted single over the PSU shortstop's head and advanced a pair of bases on a fielding error and subsequent sac bunt. When Angela Findlay fired a grounder toward the six-hole, Ewing went for it but was thrown out at home plate.
PSU's biggest threat came in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Sam Hovenac lined a blast to the top of the fence in right centerfield, which kicked back inside and over the head of a charging Bausher, allowing the Nittany Lion rightfielder to slide safely in for a triple. The hit induced Michigan's pitching change, and, after a brief warmup, Taylor struck out the subsequent batter on four pitches.
The extra innings came as a result of strong pitching and outstanding defensive plays. The most spectacular occurred in the bottom of the third when sophomore centerfielder Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) sprinted in to catch a PSU blooper to left centerfield, laying out to glove the ball and double-up the Nittany Lion baserunner at second. Angela Findlay followed suit in the sixth, snagging a shallow poke to rightfield on the run for the inning's final out.
The Wolverines turned their second double play of the game in the bottom of the eight. After a leadoff single through the leftside gap, the Nittany Lions' Jackie Hill sent a high pop up down the firstbase line, where Shaw snagged it, spun and threw out the PSU baserunner at first.
Michigan (47-5, 17-2 Big Ten) will wrap up Big Ten play Sunday (May 4) with the second of two games against Penn State in State College, Pa. The game is slated for a noon start at Nittany Lion Field and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
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