Michigan
23-8, 5-1
Wisconsin
13-18, 2-6
Michigan Nips Wisconsin for Hutchins' 800th Career Win
4/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MADISON, Wis. -- The 13th-ranked University of Michigan softball team, which entered Saturday's (April 12) action tied for first place in the Big Ten with Iowa, earned its sixth straight victory with a 2-1 decision over Wisconsin at the Goodman Softball Complex. With the victory, Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins became the 17th coach in NCAA softball history and 14th in Division I to record 800 career victories. Hutchins, in her 19th season (1985-2003) at Michigan, owns 777 career wins for the Maize and Blue after registering 23 in her only season at Ferris State (1982).
| | Hutchins has averaged 50.25 wins per season over the last eight campaigns. |
The Wolverines threatened to grab the lead in the bottom of the first when they loaded the bases with two out after a Wisconsin error, hit and walk, but designated player Lisa Mack (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) popped out to second base to end the inning. After Michigan stranded another runner in scoring position in the second, Moulden and Young took matters into their own hands in the third. Moulden drove a one-out shot over the fence in centerfield and then Young drilled her team-best eighth of the season to leftfield with two outs for a 2-0 Michigan lead.
After allowing just one runner through the first three innings, Motycka was touched for an unearned run in the fourth on a one-out single, passed ball and a two-out RBI single from Erin Barnharst. With its lead trimmed to one, Michigan put runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings but could not extend its lead. Motycka got through the fifth allowing just a two-out single but found herself in trouble in the sixth. After setting down the Badger leadoff hitter in the sixth, an error by second baseman Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) was followed by single to rightfield, which put runners on first and second and prompted Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to bring on Young in relief.
Less than 24 hours after tossing a complete-game, one-hit shutout of these same Badgers, Young induced a groundball back to the mound, which she used to cut down the lead runner at third, and then a popout to second to preserve the Wolverines' one-run lead. Michigan was not able to give Young any insurance after going down 1-2-3 for the first time in the bottom of the sixth, but Michigan's staff ace was up to the challenge, getting a strikeout, infield popout and groundball back to the mound.
The Wolverines close out their weekend trip with a doubleheader tomorrow (Sunday, April 13, noon CDT) vs. Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. The Golden Gophers entered today's game vs. Michigan State with a 5-2 conference record, just percentage points behind the Wolverines.
N O T E S
Melinda Moulden's home run in the third is her fourth of the season, which ties freshman Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Sabino HS) for second on the team. It is the 15th of Moulden's career, which moves her into fifth place alone on the Michigan career list.
Marissa Young's team-leading 23rd RBI on her solo shot in the third gave her 119 career RBI, which moves into a tie for ninth on the Wolverine career list with Pam Kosanke (1997-2000).
The Wolverines are now 7-3 this season in one-run games.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Motycka, Nicole (9-5)
L: Kirchberg (11-13)
S: Young, Marissa (1)
Batting:
RBI: Barnharst 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reiss, M. 1
Batting:
HR: Moulden, Melinda 1 ; Young, Marissa 1
RBI: Moulden, Melinda 1 ; Young, Marissa 1
SH: Betley, Courtney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moulden, Melinda 1 ; Young, Marissa 1
SB: Betley, Courtney 1
