Motycka Two-Hitter, Merchant Homer Dump Ohio State

Saturday, April 10

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

31-6, 6-0

Ohio State

23-14, 2-4

Michigan

Ohio State

4/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan softball team ran its season-best win streak to 14 games with a 1-0 win over Ohio State today (Saturday, April 10) at Alumni Field. The Wolverines moved to 31-6 overall and a perfect 6-0 in Big Ten Conference action. Junior Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) pitched a gem, throwing a complete game, two-hit shutout for her 12th win of the season. Motycka held the Buckeyes to just two baserunners without allowing a single walk in addition to striking out four.

Late-game heroics by junior Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) in the form of a solo home run broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh. Merchant's round-tripper was the 13th of the year, tying former Wolverines Melissa Gentile (1997-2000) and Marissa Young (2000-03) for the Maize and Blue single-season home run record.

As in yesterday's matchup between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines, the contest was a pitchers' duel, with the teams combining for just three hits through four innings. Although the Buckeyes were able to connect for leadoff hits in both the second and third innings, the Wolverines stayed strong with good pitching and defense to keep an OSU runner from crossing the plate.

With one out and a runner on second in the second frame, Ohio State catcher Natalie Hales sent a shot ticketed for leftfield, but Merchant made a huge stop and from her knees threw out Hales at first. After a leadoff double and sacrifice in the third, Ohio State put a runner on third with less than two outs, but Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) made a solid play at second to hold the runner at third and Motycka took care of the rest with one of her four K's.

The only run of the game came via Merchant's seventh-inning leadoff dinger over the fence in leftfield. Motycka followed with a double that hit off the top of the fence in leftfield, but the Wolverines were unable to add to their lead.

It turned out the one run was all Michigan needed to close out the win, as Motycka continued her good performance by retiring the final three batters in order for a 1-0 victory.

The Wolverines will close out their weekend homestand with a doubleheader tomorrow (April 11) against Penn State. The first pitch of game one will be at noon at Alumni Field.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Coach Carol Hutchins
On the victory ... "I thought the key today was our defense. We are not getting a ton of production from our lineup right now, but I tell these kids all the time the one thing that must remain consistent is our defense and we need to take pride in our defense. We made some excellent plays in the field, but defense starts in the pitcher's circle and (Nicole) Motycka was excellent today."

On Jessica Merchant's record-tying home run ... "It was a big hit because it was the difference in the game. Jessie needs to continue just playing the game and not worry about records, and all the other stuff will take care of itself. I don't think about records too much. I'll worry about all the records when I retire."

N O T E S

Jessica Merchant's home run is the 23rd of her career, which moves her into sole possession of the No. 2 spot on Michigan's career list. Merchant moves past former teammate Marissa Young and is now five shy of matching the record (28) set by Melissa Gentile.

Michigan's current 14-game win streak matches its best streak of last season, when the Wolverines won 14 straight from March 29, 2003, through April 18, 2003, before dropping a 4-0 decision at Ohio State.

Nicole Motycka has now tossed two straight shutouts and has allowed just one earned run in her last seven appearances, including six starts and 38.1 innings. She has also tossed 21.0 straight innings without a walk.

Today's shutout is the 17th of the season by the Michigan staff. The Michigan record of 24 shutouts was set by the 1996 staff.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423