Michigan
47-9-1, 19-3
Indiana
17-38, 3-9
Wolverines Roll in Rain-Delayed Win Over Indiana
5/8/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Result: #6 Michigan 11, Indiana 2 (5 innings)
Records: U-M (47-9-1, 19-3 Big Ten); Indiana (17-38, 3-19 Big Ten)
Next U-M Games: Sunday, May 9 -- vs. Indiana (Alumni Field), noon DH
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A two-hour, one-minute rain delay only extended the inevitable for Indiana University as No. 6-ranked University of Michigan rolled to a five-inning run-rule 11-2 softball victory over the visiting Hoosiers Saturday (May 8). The teams, who were scheduled for two games Saturday before the rainy weather interrupted the plans, will complete the weekend Big Ten Conference series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday (May 9).
Michigan (47-9-1, 19-3 Big Ten) opened the game with four runs on five hits in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run home run to straightaway centerfield by Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS). Indiana answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, both pushed across when Melissa Narewski tripled.
After back-to-back scoreless innings by Michigan and Indiana, the rain delay and a seven-run scoring outburst by the Wolverines all but ended any Hoosiers' upset bid. Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) opened the bottom of the third inning with a U-M career-record double off the top of the left-centerfield fence, followed by a Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) RBI double to the gap in left center.
After Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) singled up the middle, rain halted play with baserunners on the corners. When the game resumed, the Wolverines scored six more runs on five hits and an IU infield error.
Wolverine pitcher Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) retired the next five Indiana batters faced before walking Khara Good in the fifth. The sophomore recorded her 20th win of the season (20-2) by forcing a flyout to leftfield. Barda allowed just two Indiana hits over her five innings of work. Teresa Martinez (8-15) gave up 15 hits and a pair of walks in a losing effort.
Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) and Volpe were each perfect at the plate with 3-for-3 performances. Volpe also collected three RBI, tying Gentile for game-high honors.
Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems
• The rainy weather forced the Wolverines into delaying their recognition of the senior class. Four individuals -- manager Blanca Lebron and players Traci Conrad, Catherine Davie and Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) -- will be honored between the doubleheader games on Sunday.
• In three trips to Oklahoma City, Okla., for the NCAA Women's College World Series, the Michigan Wolverines have been treated to outstanding hospitality and support by the local residents. Now the Wolverines and their fans are returning the favor to the Oklahomans by collecting donations to the Oklahoma City Tornado Relief Fund administered by the American Red Cross. A general collection will take place between games of Sunday's doubleheader. U-M head coach Carol Hutchins has sent the ball to the plate with a $100 gift, and has issued a challenge to both Michigan fans and fans of collegiate softball to help the people who have been so helpful to NCAA Division I softball.
• The three-run home run by Melissa Gentile in the first inning was the junior's seventh career three-run homer and second of the season. The blast, which nearly went through the centerfield pine trees to the baseball stadium outfield, pushed Gentile's Michigan career home run record total to 22.
• Marie Barda became the seventh player in Michigan softball history to post 20 wins in a season, tying Kelly Kovach (20 in 1993) for eighth place on the U-M season win list. Barda is 25-4 in two season with the Wolverines.
• Traci Conrad and Catherine Davie treated fans to career record-setting performances. Conrad tied Davie and Sara Griffin (1995-98) with her 58th career double, in the second inning. Davie then set the Wolverine all-time doubles mark with her double off the left-centerfield wall in the third inning, her 59th career double.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Barda, Marie (20-2)
L: Teresa Martinez (8-15)
Batting:
3B: Melissa Narewski 1
RBI: Melissa Narewski 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Monica Zahasky 1 ; Shana Gudgel 1
HBP: Brooke Monroe 1
Batting:
2B: Conrad, Traci 1 ; Davie, Catherine 1 ; Volpe, Stefanie 1 ; Mika, Tammy 1
HR: Gentile, Melissa 1
RBI: Conrad, Traci 1 ; Davie, Catherine 1 ; Volpe, Stefanie 3 ; Gentile, Melissa 3 ; Tune, Rebecca 1 ; Mika, Tammy 1 ; Taylor, Melissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Conrad, Traci 2 ; Kollen, Kelsey 1 ; Davie, Catherine 1 ; Volpe, Stefanie 1 ; Conner, Mary 1 ; Kosanke, Pam 2 ; Gentile, Melissa 1 ; Hunter, Kristen 1 ; Mika, Tammy 1
CS: Kollen, Kelsey 1
PO: Davie, Catherine 1
