Michigan Closes Regular Season with Sweep of Indiana

Sunday, May 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

48-9-1, 20-3

Indiana

17-39, 3-20

Michigan

Indiana

5/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Results: #6 Michigan 5, Indiana 4; #6 Michigan 8, Indiana 3
Records: U-M (49-9-1, 21-3 Big Ten); Indiana (17-40, 3-21 Big Ten)
Next U-M Games: Friday, May 14 -- vs. Michigan State or Iowa in Big Ten Tournament (Alumni Field), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- No. 6-ranked University of Michigan put an exclamation point on its Big Ten Conference championship season with 5-4 and 8-3 wins in Sunday's (May 9) softball doubleheader vs. Indiana University. The two wins gave the Wolverines (49-9-1, 21-3 Big Ten) a sweep in their three-game weekend series with the Hoosiers (17-40, 3-21 Big Ten).

Freshman catcher Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) keyed the Michigan offense. Volpe began the day with a two-run double and finished the day with an RBI single. In between Volpe put together a 6-for-7 two-game showing at the plate, totaling two doubles and six RBI. She was a perfect 4-for-4 in the nightcap.

In the opener, Michigan led 3-2 after the third inning before Indiana tied the game in the fourth on a Sheri Savko sacrifice fly. The Wolverines came back with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead for good, scoring on a Volpe double and a Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) groundout. Indiana added a run in the bottom of the fifth, then was retired in order by U-M reliever Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) in the sixth and seventh innings.

Michigan starter Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) recorded the win to improve to 17-4. Gillies gave up eight hits and four walks over her five innings. Barda earned the save, her third of the season. Alison Cooke (8-15) was the loser.

The Wolverines were forced to play catch-up in the second game, trailing the Hoosiers 3-2 after two innings. Michigan took command of the game with three runs in the bottom of the third inning and added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth for the 8-3 victory. A two-run centerfield single by Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) scored Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) and pinch runner Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Southgate Anderson HS) for the game-winning runs.

Freshman pitcher Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) went the distance in the Michigan win, her 12th in 15 decisions. Eiland allowed eight hits and struck out four in her first complete-game performance since March 27. Indiana's Jennifer Smith (1-10) was the loser, allowing seven hits and five walks before being relieved in the fifth inning by Teresa Martinez.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• Fans at Sunday's Michigan-Indiana softball doubleheader donated $777 to the American Red Cross for the Oklahoma City Tornado Relief Fund. Wolverine head coach Carol Hutchins started the fund drive with a $100 donation. The Wolverines and their fans have traveled to Oklahoma City for three NCAA Women's College World Series tournaments, and chose to assist the residents who have shown them outstanding hospitality during the WCWS.

• Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) set the Michigan career doubles record Saturday, then tied Minnesota's Amber Hegland for the Big Ten career doubles record with her 60th two-bagger, in the fifth inning. . . . Davie was 2-for-3 with an RBI in each half of Sunday's doubleheader.

• Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS) may have been held hitless in six doubleheader plate appearances, but she provided a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly in each game.

• Michigan opens defense of its Big Ten Softball Tournament title on Friday (May 14) at Alumni Field. The top-seeded Wolverines will play at 4 p.m. against the winner of the 11 a.m. play-in game between No. 4 seed Michigan State and fifth-seeded Iowa. Minnesota (No. 2) and Penn State (No. 3) complete the five-team tournament field.

Big Ten Softball Standings (Final)

 1. MICHIGAN         21-3    .875
 2. Minnesota        16-8    .667
 3. Penn State       15-9    .625
 4. Michigan State   13-9    .591
 5. Iowa             14-10   .583
 6. Wisconsin        11-12   .478
 7. Northwestern     11-13   .458
 8. Purdue            9-14   .391
 9. Ohio State        5-19   .208
10. Indiana           3-21   .125