Michigan
32-10
Central Michigan
21-14
Wolverines Turn Wild Pitches Into Runs, Top Chippewas
4/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 14th-ranked University of Michigan softball team upped its record to 32-10 in a 2-1 win over Central Michigan this evening (Wednesday, April 23) at Alumni Field. Pitcher Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) received the win, taking her record to 17-1. Young dominated the game, recording five innings without allowing a runner and holding the Chippewas to four hits and one run. The Michigan bats were quiet as well, held to only four hits with both runs scoring via wild pitches. Shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) highlighted the offense, going 1-1 with a walk, a sacrifice, a double and a run scored.
The Wolverines jumped ahead early in the first inning with help from Central Michigan. A misjudged fly ball off the bat of Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) allowed her to second base and began a problematic inning for the Chippewas. After a Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) bunt single, a wild pitch brought home an unearned run for Michigan, putting the Wolverines on the board with a 1-0 lead. The possibility of a big inning grew after another Central Michigan error, but a flyout and a double play quickly ended the rally.
In the Central Michigan second, the Chippewas managed to come up with their only two hits off Young in the first five innings. A solid leadoff single to leftfield and a bunt single past Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) at third put runners on first and second with nobody out. After two strikeouts, a two-out walk loaded the bases, but a groundball to first retired the side with no runs scored.
Michigan scored its second run of the game in the fourth inning, sparked by a leadoff double to the gap in left-center by shortstop Merchant. Designated player Lisa Mack (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) worked a walk to put the Wolverines on first and second for Leutele, who laid a bunt down the first base line to advance the runners. The second wild pitch of the game from the Chippewas allowed Merchant to cross the plate, giving Michigan a 2-0 lead, but a flare to shortstop and a pop fly on the infield ended the inning with no further damage.
The Central Michigan bats finally came to life in the sixth inning, leading off with a long drive to rightfield caught on the warning track by Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS). The Wolverines were not so lucky with the second Chippewa hitter, Brittany Decker, who belted a drive to leftfield over the fence to cut the deficit to 2-1. After a ground ball to third base for the second out of the inning, a single over the head of Merchant continued problems for the Wolverines. But Michigan caught a break when Moulden snagged a line drive hit to leftfield to end the inning with the score intact.
The Wolverines threatened to extend their lead in the bottom of the inning, ignited by a leadoff single from Young and a sacrifice bunt by Merchant. With two out, Leutele battled her way to first base with a walk, but a caught line drive to rightfield off the bat of pinch hitter Lauren Holland (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) ended the inning with no runs scored.
The Chippewas were shut down in the bottom of the seventh from superb pitching by Young. Down by one run, the Central Michigan hitters were retired consecutively, beginning with a line drive caught by Haas at second base. A failed bunt attempt and a strikeout ended the game with a final score of 2-1 in favor of the Wolverines. Young recorded seven strikeouts and gave up only one walk to put up her 17th win of the season.
Michigan will open a four-game Big Ten weekend when it hosts Purdue on Friday (April 25, 3 p.m.) at Alumni Field.
N O T E S
Michigan is now 11-4 on the season on one-run games.
Michigan extends its win streak over Central Michigan to seven games.
Jessica Merchant's double is her 10th of the season and sixth in her last eight games.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Young, Marissa (17-1)
L: RASMUSSEN (6-7)
Batting:
HR: DECKER 1
RBI: DECKER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DECKER 1
Batting:
2B: Merchant, Jessica 1
SH: Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Mack, Lisa 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 1
