from MGoBlue.com
http://www.mgoblue.com/softball/article.aspx?id=137022
Wolverines Upset by Spartans in Big Ten Tournament
May 8, 2008
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Sharon J. Drysdale Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Score: Michigan State 2, #6 Michigan 1
Records: Michigan (48-6), MSU (27-28)
Next U-M Game: TBA
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team was eliminated from the 2008 Big Ten Conference Tournament after falling 2-1 to Michigan State in the event's opening game Thursday (May 8) at Northwestern's Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Freshman Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) took the loss for the Wolverines, going five innings in relief and giving up one run on five hits. Sophomore Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) started the game from the circle and allowed an unearned run on two hits through two innings pitched.
Despite registering just four hits, including two for extra bases, the Wolverines (48-6) accepted five walks to provide several scoring opportunities. They put runners in scoring position in four innings and left stranded seven total.
The Spartans took advantage of a U-M miscue to take the contest's initial advantage in the top of the second inning. Lindsey Hansen kicked off the frame with double to left-centerfield and came home in the subsequent at-bat following a bunt fielder's choice. Sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) fielded the ball and attempted to throw out the lead runner but instead fired the ball wide and into leftfield, allowing Hansen to trot home unattested.
Viefhaus evened the score for the Wolverines with one out in the fourth, knocking out a full-count solo shot -- her seventh homer of the season -- over the fence in leftfield.
Michigan looked poised to score again in the following inning when senior leftfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) flew a long ball to the track in leftfield, beyond reach of the Spartan, and pulled into second base for her 12th double of the season. The Wolverine captain is now just one two-bagger shy of the U-M career record.
After freshman Marley Powers (Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS) entered as a pinch hitter and earned a base on balls in five pitches, sophomore righfielder Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) smacked a hard liner through the leftside gap. Giampaolo was waved home for the potential go-ahead run but was beat by the throw as MSU catcher Caitlin Mahoney tagged her out on the play to end the inning.
Michigan State scored the game-winning run two outs in the sixth. With Mahoney on second base after a leadoff walk, Jessica Bracamonte lifted a blooper over the head of U-M freshman first baseman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS) and into shallow rightfield, allowing Mahoney to race home.
The NCAA Championship team selections and regional sites will be announced Sunday (May 11) at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. Michigan has been in the NCAA field each of the last 13 seasons, reaching the Women's College World Series eight times and winning the 2005 national championship.
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