Michigan Softball: Michigan lost to Va. Tech

from MGoBlue.com
http://www.mgoblue.com/softball/article.aspx?id=138878

Michigan's Bats Quieted by Hokies in Super Regional

May 25, 2008
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Event: NCAA Super Regional (Games 2-3)
Scores: #17 Virginia Tech 1, #6 Michigan 0; #17 Virginia Tech 6, #6 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (52-8), Virginia Tech (49-17)
Next U-M Game: Season Completed

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team saw its hopes of a return trip to the Women's College World Series come to an end Sunday (May 25), as 17th-ranked Virginia Tech won twice on U-M's home field, 1-0 and 6-1, to take the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional and earn its first trip to the WCWS.

With a crowd of 2,347 on hand at the Wilpon Complex, home to Alumni Field, Michigan managed just three hits in each contest off Virginia Tech ace Angela Tincher and dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.

After the teams split 1-0 decisions in the first two games of the series, Virginia Tech took control of the deciding game in the third inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs on two hits, three walks and an RBI fielder's choice. The Hokies added single runs in the fourth and fifth before U-M finally dented the scoreboard with freshman first baseman Dorian Shaw's (Burke, Va./Robinson SS) solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.

In Sunday's opener, the Hokies' unearned run in the bottom of the first inning -- aided by two Michigan errors in the frame -- was all that Tincher needed. She allowed three hits and two walks and struck out 15 batters. Over the two games Sunday she gave up just six hits and one run in 14 innings while walking two and fanning 22.

After two quiet innings in game two, the top of the third quickly became a nightmare for Michigan. Sophomore pitcher Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS), who earned the start after throwing a perfect sixth inning in the opener, gave up a leadoff infield single to Whitney Davis, who advanced to second when junior Teddi Ewing's (Olathe, Kan./East HS) shovel pass to first sailed wide of Shaw.

That brought freshman pitcher Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) off the U-M bench. Taylor, who had not given up an earned run during her last 25 innings of postseason action over a five-game stretch that included three complete-game shutouts, had nothing left after going seven innings Saturday and five innings in Sunday's opener. She walked three of the first four batters she faced -- getting the second hitter on a sacrifice bunt -- to force in a run, and when Misty Hall's line shot went off sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus' (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) glove and down the leftfield line for a two-run double, Virginia Tech suddenly had a 3-0 lead.

After the Hokies added another run on a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop, Nemitz reentered the game and ended the rally, throwing out a runner at home on a bunt back to the circle and catching the next batter looking to close the inning.

Tech added single runs in the next two innings, as Davis led off the fourth with her first career home run and the Hokies pieced together a walk, fielder's choice, flyout with the runner advancing to second, and single off Ewing's glove and through the hole at short to make it 6-0.

Shaw ended Tincher's string of scoreless innings at 12 when she sent a 2-1 offering high over the fence in leftfield with two outs in the fifth for the 11th home of her rookie season. However, Tincher retired the Wolverines in order in the last two innings to close the game.

A season-high-tying four errors doomed the Wolverines in the first contest as Virginia Tech took advantage of a pair of U-M miscues to score the lone run of the game in the bottom of the first. With one out and Erin Ota on base after a full-count walk, Charisse Mariconda sent a dribbler to second base, but Ewing dropped the throw on an attempted forceout at second and both Hokie runners were safe.

A liner to centerfield in the subsequent at-bat loaded up the bases for Kelsey Hoffman, who sent a soft grounder down the third baseline. Viefhaus forced the lead runner at home plate, but sophomore catcher Roya St. Clair's (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) attempt to double-up the runner at first went awry and Mariconda trotted home from third base.

The Wolverines' only real threat came in the third inning, when senior second baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) led off with a full-count walk and moved to second when Viefhaus struck out swinging and the ball got past the catcher for a wild pitch. After another strikeout, Shaw walked to put runners on first and second with two outs, but Tincher fanned St. Clair to end the inning.

Michigan had single baserunners in the third, fifth and sixth innings but could not advance them past first base. Tincher, who had at least one strikeout in each inning of the opener and struck out the side in the second and fifth frames, earned her 37th double-digit strikeout performance of the season and dealt Michigan its most single-game strikeouts in three years.

U-M ends the season with a 52-8 overall record. The Wolverines shared the Big Ten regular-season title and won their 11th NCAA regional championship.