Young Dominates in Circle, at Plate in Win at Wisconsin

Friday, April 11

Madison, Wis.

6:00 PM CT

Michigan

22-8, 4-1

Wisconsin

13-17, 2-5

Michigan

Wisconsin

Young Dominates in Circle, at Plate in Win at Wisconsin

4/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. -- The 13th-ranked University of Michigan softball team bounced back from a 10-day layoff with a 3-0 shutout over Wisconsin this evening (Friday, April 11) at the Goodman Softball Complex.

The Wolverines (22-8, 4-1 Big Ten), who had four games cancelled during that 10-day stretch, got a huge effort from senior hurler Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS), who tossed a complete-game, one-hit shutout and drove in two of Michigan's three runs with a home run and double. The co-captain struck out 10 while walking just one and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering a leadoff single. The Wolverines entered the day just a half game out of first place in the conference behind Iowa and Michigan State.

Both teams put together minor threats in the first, with Michigan's Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) collecting a one-out single and stealing second with two out, but Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) struck out to end the threat. Young issued a leadoff walk in the first and then her own error against the next Badger put runners on first and second with nobody out, but she settled down the strike out the side, stranding what would be the only runner Wisconsin put in scoring this evening.

Young took the momentum from the three K's in the bottom of the first to the plate when she led off the top of the second with a solo shot over the wall in centerfield for a 1-0 Wolverine lead.

Wisconsin did put one runner on in both the second and third innings when Young hit two batters, but neither reached second base. The Wolverines threatened to extend their lead in the fourth when Schock earned a leadoff walk and her pinch runner, Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale HS), moved to second after a sacrifice by Young and stood on third after a single from Lisa Mack (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) put runners on the corners with just one out. Wisconsin starter Andrea Kirchberg showed she could get out of a jam as well and struck out Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) before Bercaw was gunned down at the plate 2-6-2 after attempting to score from third on a double steal.

Michigan missed another scoring chance in the fifth when sophomore shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) drew a leadoff walk and stole second with two outs, but Doe flied out to left, ending the threat.

Meanwhile, Young was finding a rhythm in the circle, setting down nine straight, including the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings, but U-M was still clinging to just a one-run lead. That changed in the sixth when senior leftfielder Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) led off with a double and Schock followed with a walk. Schock's season-high, 11-game hit streak came to an end on an 0-1 evening, but she did reach base twice via walks. Young then drove in her second run of the game with a double that plated Moulden and moved Schock to third. Mack then delivered her second hit of the game, scoring Moulden on a single to rightfield, but Amy Prichard (Haslett, Mich./Haslett HS), who pinch ran for Young, was gunned down on the relay to the plate.

The three-run cushion proved to be more than Young would need as her bid for a third career no-hitter reached the sixth inning. Wisconsin centerfielder Mandy Liles ended the suspense with a single to rightfield to lead off the sixth, but the next three Badgers went down quietly on a strikeout, flyout and groundout. Young then enjoyed a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out the final two for her fourth game this season with a double-digit strikeout total.

The Wolverines close out their two-game set at Wisconsin tomorrow (Saturday, April 12) with a single game at noon CDT.

N O T E S

Marissa Young's solo shot in the second inning is her team-leading seventh homer of the season and 16th of her career. Young's best previous single-season home run total was five, which she collected last season. Young's two RBI give her a team-best seven games this season with multiple RBI.

Marissa Young's shutout is her fifth this season and 33rd for her career, which moves her into a tie for third on the Wolverine career list, matching Kelly Kovach's (1992-95) total.

Meghan Doe went 2-4 and now owns Michigan's longest current hit streak at six games. Doe also now owns nine multi-hit games this season, which is tied second on the team with Tiffany Haas. Melinda Moulden leads with 10.

Lisa Mack collected a pair of hits for her third multi-hit game of the season.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423