Michigan Logs Back-to-Back Shutouts Over IPFW, Butler

Saturday, March 22

West Lafayette, Ind.

11:00 AM

Michigan

12-6

Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne

6-10

Michigan

IPFW

Michigan Logs Back-to-Back Shutouts Over IPFW, Butler

3/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Harrison High School)
Event: Boilermaker Classic
Score: #15 Michigan 10, IUPU-Fort Wayne 0 (5 innings);
    #15 Michigan 3, Butler 0
Records: U-M (13-6)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, March 23 -- vs. Gardner-Webb (9 a.m.), vs. Loyola (11 a.m.) at Boilermaker Classic (West Lafayette, Ind.)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The 15th-ranked University of Michigan softball team upped its win streak to seven games this afternoon (Saturday, March 22) with two wins in its first day of action at Purdue's Boilermaker Classic. Playing at Harrison High School, the Wolverines (13-6) pounded out a season-high 14 hits in just five innings of a 10-0, run-rule victory over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, then earned a 3-0 win over Butler in its second game of the day.

Back in the cleanup spot, junior catcher Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) went 3-3 with three RBI and a run scored in the win over IPFW. Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) did not allow a hit and struck out eight in four innings of work. Freshman Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) tossed a scoreless fifth in relief but did allow IPFW's only hit of the game. Another freshman, third baseman Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS), enjoyed a 3-3 game at the plate, including a double, triple and three RBI.

The Wolverines defeated Butler behind a combined shutout from starter Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) and Ritter out of the bullpen. Motycka, who also went 3-3 at the plate with a run scored, tossed four innings and allowed just three hits to get the win, while Ritter gave a very strong effort in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out four in three innings of work. Senior leftfielder Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) added a pair of RBI in the win.

Michigan scored in each of the first three innings against IPFW, which included scoring single runs in both the first and second innings after starting with two outs and the bases empty. In the first, Moulden singled with two outs and then scored on a double from Schock. After the first two batters in the second went down, Leutele singled and moved to second on a single from Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) before scoring on a third straight safety from freshman leadoff hitter Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS).

The Wolverines added two in the third, and although they did not wait until there were two outs and nobody on, it did take a two-out double to left-center from Leutele to score both runs. Leutele also tripled in the fifth while Schock added a two-run single to centerfield in the midst of a six-run Wolverine fifth. Michigan's top two hitters in the lineup, Haas and No. 2 hitter Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS), also scored in the inning. Those two along with No. 3 hitter Moulden and Schock combined to hit 8-14 with five runs scored and four RBI from the top four spots of the Michigan batting order.

The Michigan bats started out quickly in game two as well, with Moulden providing her two-run double in the first following walks to both Haas and Doe. Motycka singled with one out in the second and eventually scored on a single from Haas for what would turn out to be the final run of the game. After both teams left the bases loaded in the third, Motycka found herself in more trouble in the fourth after a double and bunt single put runners on second and third with just one out. However, the sophomore hurler took care of the next two hitters on her own with a strikeout and groundout back to the circle.

Ritter came on in relief in the fifth, but the inning took on a familiar tone with Butler putting runners on the corners with just one out before the freshman got a strikeout and groundout. That was the last threat of the game for the Bulldogs as Ritter set down the final six in order, including three strikeouts.

Michigan closes out action at the Boilermaker Classic tomorrow (Sunday, March 23), facing Gardner-Webb at 9 a.m. and Loyola (Ill.) at 11 a.m. at the Purdue Softball Complex.

N O T E S

Grace Leutele posted career highs of three hits and three RBI vs. IPFW are career bests, while Nicole Motycka had a career-best three hits vs. Butler.

Monica Schock's three hits and three RBI vs. IPFW are season bests.

Melinda Moulden's two RBI vs. Butler give her 113 for her career, which moves her into a ninth-place tie with Jessica Lang (1994-97) on the Michigan career list.

Michigan's 10 runs against IPFW are a team season best. The Wolverines' previous season high was nine vs. Fresno State on Feb. 15.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423