Weekly Release #11
5/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich. -- All times EDT
Thursday, May 10
Game 1 -- #3 seed Ohio State vs. #6 seed Wisconsin, 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 -- #4 seed Illinois vs. #5 seed Penn State, Noon
Game 3 -- #2 seed Iowa vs. Winner Game 1, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4 -- #1 seed Michigan vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 11
Game 5 -- Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, 9:30 a.m.
Game 6 -- Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4, Noon
Game 7 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30 p.m.
Game 8 -- Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 12
Game 9 -- Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, Noon
Game 10 -- Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 2:30 p.m.
Big Ten Champions Prepare to Defend League Tourney Title
The 22nd-ranked University of Michigan softball team (37-14-1, 17-3 Big Ten) is set to defend its 2000 Big Ten Tournament title this week (Thursday-Saturday, May 10-12) at Alumni Field. Michigan's 5-0 and 2-1 weekend series sweep of in-state rival Michigan State coupled with 15th-ranked Iowa's 2-1 loss to Northwestern on Sunday (May 6) earned the Wolverines the outright Big Ten regular-season title and the top seed in the conference tournament.
The six-team tournament is double elimination until the championship game, which is slated for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised by Fox Sports Chicago. The Wolverines along with No. 2 seed Iowa have earned first-round byes. Michigan's first tournament game will be on Thursday (5 p.m.) as the Wolverines will face the winner of No. 4 seed Illinois and No. 5 seed Penn State. The second-seeded Hawkeyes will face the winner of No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 6 seed Wisconsin.
On the Air
Michigan's first two games of the Big Ten Tournament will be broadcast live on WTKA AM-1050 with Dennis Fithian providing play-by-play. Should the Wolverines play Saturday at noon, 2:30 p.m. or both, the game or games will be webcast over mgoblue.com due to WTKA's conflict with the Detroit Tigers' game. Doug Karsch will provide the play-by-play for the webcasts.
Scouting the Rest of the Field
Illinois -- Illinois (47-21, 12-8 Big Ten) finished its first season in the Big Ten in fourth place ... Illinois is 0-2 vs. the Wolverines this season, losing 10-2 and 2-0 at home on March 31 and April 1 ... Illinois won a season-best 10 straight games from April 11-21 ... Lindsay Hamma leads Iowa with a .319 batting average, while Kathryn Nevard is 25-9 with a 1.31 ERA ... Illinois is hitting .254 with a team ERA of 1.40 ... Illinois on the Internet: www.fightingillini.com.
#15 Iowa -- Iowa (42-11, 16-4 Big Ten) finished its regular season in second place in the Big Ten ... Iowa won 11 straight before dropping its regular-season finale vs. Northwestern 2-1 ... Iowa swept Big Ten champ Michigan in a pair of 1-0 games at Ann Arbor on April 28 & 29 ... Iowa's top hitter is Alicia Gerlach, who is hitting .378, while Kristi Hanks' leads the Big Ten with a 32-7 record ... Hank's ERA is 0.66 ... Iowa is hitting .281 as a team with a team ERA of 0.91 ... Iowa on the Internet: www.hawkeyesports.com.
Ohio State -- Ohio State (46-16, 14-6 Big Ten) finished the regular season third in the Big Ten ... The Buckeyes have won five straight entering the Big Ten Tournament ... Ohio State split a two-game series earlier this season with Michigan, losing to the Wolverines 2-1 on April 21, but winning 3-2 in 11 innings on April 22 ... Ohio State's top hitter is Jennifer Link with a .367 average, while Katie Chain is 23-5 with a 0.68 ERA ... The Buckeyes are hitting .294 with a team ERA of 0.78 ... Ohio State's 46 wins are the most in the program's history ... Ohio State on the Internet: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Penn State -- Penn State (30-24, 9-11 Big Ten) finished fifth in the Big Ten standings ... The Nittany Lions enter the tournament having lost five of their last seven ... Penn State was swept by Michigan 10-1 and 9-1 in a doubleheader at State College on April 20 ... Megan Humphrey leads Penn State with a batting average of .359, while Kelly McCann has a 20-12 mark and an ERA of 1.88 ... Penn State is hitting .277 with a team ERA of 2.07 ... Penn State on the Internet: www.gopsusports.com.
Wisconsin -- Wisconsin (31-23, 9-11 Big Ten) closed the regular season sixth in the Big Ten standing ... the Badgers won seven of their last 10 entering the tournament ... Wisconsin was swept by Michigan 4-2 and 8-0 on April 13 & 14 ... Meghann Reiss is leading the Badgers with a .294 average while Andrea Kirchberg leads the Badger pitchers with a 20-10 mark and an ERA of 1.15 ... Wisconsin is hitting .250, with a team ERA of 1.46 ... Wisconsin on the Internet: www.uwbadgers.com.
Wolverines Shoot for Second Straight Tournament Title
Michigan is the defending Big Ten Tournament champ and has won the conference tournament in five of the last six years. Northwestern won the inaugural tournament in 1982, but after a 12-year hiatus the tournament returned in 1995 with Michigan winning the first of four straight from 1995-98. Minnesota won the title at Alumni Field in 1999 before Michigan regained it a year ago in Iowa City.
Previous Big Ten Tournament Results
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Northwestern (4-0) | Michigan (2-2) |
| 1995 | Michigan (3-0) | Iowa (2-2) |
| 1996 | Michigan (3-0) | Minnesota (2-2) |
| 1997 | Michigan (3-0) | Iowa (2-2) |
| 1998 | Michigan (4-1) | Iowa (2-2) |
| 1999 | Minnesota (3-0) | Michigan (2-2) |
| 2000 | Michigan (3-1) | Iowa (2-1) |
Flashback to 2000
Michigan regained the Big Ten Tournament crown a year ago with a 2-0 win over host Iowa in the championship game. The Wolverines, who had lost earlier in the tournament 3-1 to Iowa, were led by then-freshman Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS), who threw a two-hit, complete-game shutout and struck out 10 for the win. Michigan offensive heroics were provided by then-sophomore Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Salem HS), who delivered a two-run home run on an 0-1 pitch with one out in the top of the fifth for the only runs of the game. Michigan also earned a pair of 2-0 victories over Penn State en route to the championship game. Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale HS) threw one shutout of the Nittany Lions while Young tossed the first of her two shutouts in the other win.
Michigan vs. Big Ten Tournament Field
The Wolverines are 7-3 in their 10 games vs. the other five teams participating in the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverine swept Illinois (10-2 and 2-0), Penn State (10-1 and 9-1) and Wisconsin (4-2 and 8-0) while splitting with Ohio State (2-1 and 2-3). Michigan was swept on its home field by Iowa in a pair of 1-0 decisions. Michigan has outscored its opponents 47-12 in those 10 games and is hitting .308 while holding its opponents to a hitting rate of .181. Michigan pitchers have an ERA of 0.79 in those games as Marie Barda is 3-2 with an ERA of 0.58 and Marissa Young is 4-1 with an ERA of 1.00. Offensively, Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) is hitting .455, while Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) is hitting .375 with seven RBI. Sophomore utility player Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS), who is hitting .288 for the season, is batting 45 points better (.333) vs. Michigan's five Big Ten Tournament co-participants.
Michigan as Big Ten Tournament Hosts
The Wolverines own a 12-3 (.800) all-time mark in Big Ten Tournaments at Alumni Field. Michigan went 3-0 in both 1995 and '96 on the way to conference tournament crowns. The 1998 Wolverines went 4-1 on the way to their fourth straight tournament title, but the 1999 squad went 2-2, with a pair of losses to Minnesota, including a 3-2 loss in the championship game.
Postseason Brings Fans out to Alumni Field
Nine of the 10 biggest crowds in Michigan history have come out to catch the Wolverines in postseason action. The largest crowd to witness a Big Ten Tournament tilt at Alumni Field was the championship in 1999 vs. Minnesota when 1,265 fans turned out. Aside from last Sunday's crowd of 1,187 vs. Michigan State, the other eight crowds in the top 10 list have come in NCAA Regional action. The top crowd at Alumni Field of 1,452 witnessed Michigan's 3-0 win over DePaul in the 1998 NCAA Region 3 title game, which sent the Wolverines to their fourth straight Women's College World Series.
Top 10 Alumni Field Crowds
| 1,452 | | May 17, 1998 | U-M vs. DePaul* |
| 1,266 | May 21, 2000 | U-M vs. DePaul* | |
| 1,265 | May 15, 1999 | U-M vs. Minnesota+ | |
| 1,187 | May 6, 2001 | U-M vs. Michigan State | |
| 1,117 | May 18, 1997 | U-M vs. Central Michigan (2)* | |
| 1,100 | May 22, 1993 | U-M vs. Southwestern Louisiana, Bowling Green* | |
| 1,029 | May 20, 2000 | U-M vs. Illinois-Chicago* | |
| 1,003 | May 16, 1997 | U-M vs. Cleveland State (1)* | |
| 983 | May 17, 1997 | U-M vs. Central Michigan (1)* | |
| 980 | May 21, 1995 | U-M vs. Notre Dame (1)* | |
* NCAA Tournament; + Big Ten Tournament | |||
Sweep of Spartans Propels Wolverines to Big Ten Title
Michigan's weekend sweep, 5-0 on Saturday (May 5) and 2-1 in eight innings (May 6) on Sunday, helped the Wolverines gain the outright Big Ten championship and top seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Marissa Young went the distance in Michigan's 5-0 win as the sophomore scattered six hits over seven innings. Young also delivered offensively with a two-out, two-RBI double. Michigan's 2-1, come-from-behind win on Sunday was clinched when Melissa Taylor sent a single down the leftfield line with one out in the bottom of the eighth to score fellow senior Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) from second. Michigan had tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) advanced to third base following a wild pitch and then scored after the resulting throw scooted through to leftfield. Taylor and Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) each had three hits for the Wolverines.
Michigan Claims Seventh Big Ten Regular-Season Crown
Michigan's win over Michigan State and Northwestern's upset of Iowa on Sunday gave Michigan its seventh regular-season Big Ten title since 1992. Michigan's seven all-time conference regular-season championships are the most in the conference. Iowa and Northwestern each have four.
Last 10 Big Ten Champs and Runners-up
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| 1992 | Michigan (22-6, .785) | Iowa (21-7, .750) |
| 1993 | Michigan (21-5, .808) | Iowa (20-7, .741) |
| 1994 | Indiana (23-5, .821) | Iowa (20-8, .714) |
| 1995 | Michigan (22-6, .786) | Northwestern (19-9, .679) |
| 1996 | Michigan (20-4, .833) | Minnesota (17-6, .739) |
| 1997 | Iowa (22-0, 1.000) | Michigan (18-4, .818) |
| 1998 | Michigan (22-1, .957) | Northwestern (15-9, .625) |
| 1999 | Michigan (21-3, .875) | Minnesota (16-8, .667) |
| 2000 | Iowa (14-4, .778) | Michigan (13-4, .765) |
| 2001 | Michigan (17-3, .850) | Iowa (16-4, .800) |
Michigan Takes Care of In-State Foes
In addition to their two-game sweep over Michigan State, the Wolverines also took a doubleheader from Eastern Michigan (Wednesday, May 2) and single game from Detroit (Thursday, May 3) last week. Marissa Young and Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) combined for a no-hitter in Michigan's 8-0 win over Eastern Michigan in six innings in the opener. In the nightcap, Eastern Michigan scored three in the bottom of the first and led until Monica Schock scored two with a two-out single in the fifth to tie the game at four. After the Eagles sent the game into extra innings with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, Stefanie Volpe delivered a run-scoring single in the top of the ninth for the 7-6 win. Michigan also had to fight back from a 1-0 deficit vs. Detroit, with two runs on a two-out single from Melinda Moulden in the bottom of the sixth to win 2-1.
Michigan at Alumni in 2001
The Wolverines closed their 2001 regular-season campaign with a 13-2-1 mark at Alumni Field. Michigan was unbeaten in its first 12 games this season at home before being swept by Iowa on April 28 & 29. The Wolverines won their last two home games of the season, 2-1 over Detroit and 2-1 over Michigan State.
Streaking
Michigan has been a tough team to beat when its No. 1 and No. 2 hitters in the lineup, Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) and Melissa Taylor, respectively, are getting one base. Kollen is currently riding a team-best nine-game hit streak while Taylor has hit safely in eight straight. In Michigan's 5-0 week leading into the Big Ten Tournament Taylor hit .688 (11-16) to up her average to a Big Ten-best .475. Taylor is on pace to break the Michigan single-season record for hitting of .432, which was set by Sara Griffin in 1995. Meanwhile, Kollen hit .588 (10-17) with seven runs scored to up her team-leading total in that category to 37.
Getting Comfortable
Michigan freshman Monica Schock is saving her best for late in the season. Schock collected a career-best three hits in the 7-6 win over Eastern Michigan on Thursday and then matched that total in the 2-1 win over Michigan State on Sunday. Schock hit .500 (9-18) last week to up her average to a season-best .279 heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
Another Milestone Looms for Hutch
Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins, who won her 700th career game earlier this season in the Wolverines 2-1 win over Oakland on April 3, now has 698 victories as the Wolverine skipper in 997 games coached for the Maize and Blue. A win in Michigan's first game of the tournament will assure Hutchins of the coaching in her 1,000th career game at Michigan this weekend at the Big Ten Tournament.
Young Closes in on Michigan Record
Marissa Young leads the Wolverines with 164 strikeouts this season, which is one shy of her mark of 165 as a freshman and just 20 shy of matching the Michigan single-season strikeout record of 184, which was accomplished by Sara Griffin in 1996 and 1998. Young's marks of 164 and 165 season strikeouts are the fourth and fifth-best marks all-time at Michigan.
U-M's Single-Season Strikeout Leaders (Pitching)
| 1. | Sara Griffin (1998) | 184 |
| | Sara Griffin (1996) | 184 |
| 3. | Jan Boyd (1983) | 168 |
| 4. | Marissa Young (2000) | 165 |
| 5. | Marissa Young (2001) | 164 |
| 6. | Sara Griffin (1995) | 157 |
| 7. | Kelly Holmes (1997) | 152 |
| 8. | Vicki Morrow (1986) | 144 |
| 9. | Vicki Morrow (1987) | 143 |
| 10. | Kelly Kovach (1993) | 139 |
Young Joins Exclusive Club
Marissa Young's win over Michigan State gave the sophomore her 19th win of the season, which matches the 10th-most pitching wins in a single season at Michigan. With one more win, Young would be just the eight pitcher in Michigan history to reach 20 wins in a season.
Taylor Movin' Up
Melissa Taylor, who is on pace to shatter the Michigan record for batting average in a season, connected on 11 more hits last week to run her season total to 75. Taylor now has 234 career hits, which is seventh all-time at Michigan. Taylor's .475 average currently places her among the top five in the nation. Taylor also leads the Wolverines with 22 sacrifices this season, which moves her into second place on that career list with 55. Julie Cooper (1988-91) owns that record with 57.
U-M's Career Hits Leaders
| 1. | Traci Conrad (1996-99) | 345 |
| 2. | Sara Griffin (1995-98) | 275 |
| 3. | Kellyn Tate (1995-98) | 272 |
| 4. | Catherine Davie (1996-99) | 259 |
| 5. | Patti Benedict (1990-93) | 244 |
| 6. | Alicia Seegert (1984-87) | 240 |
| 7. | Melissa Taylor (1998-present) | 234 |
| 8. | Jenny Allard (1987-90) | 227 |
| | Tracy Carr (1993-96) | 227 |
| 10. | Pam Kosanke (1997-2000) | 213 |
Tuned In
Senior shortstop Rebecca Tune continues to enjoy a career year at the plate as her batting average holds steady at .331 heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Tune, who entered this season as a career .254 hitter, has set season bests in hits (52), doubles (13) and runs (20). Tune has also been solid at shortstop, fielding at a rate of .954 with a team-best 103 assists. In addition, Tune is one of just three Wolverines to start all 52 games this season and her 241 career starts are tied for third on Michigan's career list with Kellyn Tate (1995-98).
Big Ten Standings (through End of Regular Season)
Big Ten Overall 1. MICHIGAN 17-3 .850 37-14-1 .721 2. Iowa 16-4 .800 42-11 .792 3. Ohio State 14-6 .700 46-16 .742 4. Illinois 12-8 .600 47-21 .691 5. Penn State 9-11 .450 30-24 .556 Wisconsin 9-11 .450 31-23 .574 Purdue 9-11 .450 34-24-1 .585 8. Northwestern 8-12 .400 20-23 .465 9. Minnesota 7-13 .350 35-21-1 .623 10. Michigan State 5-15 .250 21-39 .350 11. Indiana 4-16 .200 16-36 .320
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 (5/2/01)
Team Record Pts LW 1. Arizona (26) 51-4 674 1 2. UCLA (1) 49-4 648 2 3. Stanford 44-9-1 597 3 4. Louisiana State 48-10 587 5 5. California 47-8 574 4 6. Oklahoma 40-7 544 7 7. Alabama 45-10 495 6 8. Notre Dame 36-3 472 T9 9. Cal State-Fullerton 43-12 454 8 10. Nebraska 45-10 422 11 11. Arizona State 31-17 390 T9 12. Washington 33-18 379 13 13. DePaul 42-12-1 359 12 14. Oregon State 38-18-1 327 14 15. Iowa 39-10 293 15 16. Fresno State 38-17 253 16 17. Florida State 49-7 240 17 18. Pacific 45-10 230 18 19. Southwest Texas State 44-8 179 19 20. Louisiana-Lafayette 42-7 159 20 21. South Carolina 37-17-1 134 T23 22. MICHIGAN 32-14-1 103 21 23. Massachusetts 34-10 79 22 24. Cal State-Northridge 27-22 55 25 25. Texas A&M 30-17 33 T23
Tracking Michigan in the Rankings
Preseason 11th Feb. 21 18th Feb. 28 18th March 7 20th March 14 21st March 21 24th (tie) March 28 Not Ranked April 4 Not Ranked April 11 Not Ranked April 18 24th April 25 21st May 2 22nd
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
