Michigan Rallies Past Oregon State for Regional Crown

Monday, May 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:00 AM

Michigan

54-11

Oregon State

44-28

Oregon State

Michigan

Michigan Rallies Past Oregon State for Regional Crown

5/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Regional Championship
Score: #6 Michigan 5, #20 Oregon State 2
Records: U-M (54-11), OSU (44-28)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, May 27 -- vs. Louisiana State at Women's College World Series (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 11 a.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The sixth-ranked University of Michigan softball team is headed to the 2004 Women's College World Series after winning the 2004 NCAA Regional 6 Championship Monday (May 24) at Alumni Field. The Wolverines (54-11) defeated Oregon State 5-2 to take the championship and earn their seventh WCWS berth in the last 10 years.

The contest against OSU began Sunday night (May 23) after the Wolverines lost to the Beavers in the first of two championship games and were forced into a winner-take-all matchup. Oregon State jumped on top 1-0 after a solo home run by Kelly Peterson in the first and had a runner one first with two outs before the contest was halted by rain. After a rain delay lasting more than two hours, the game was suspended and scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. Monday.

The Wolverines took advantage of the overnight rest, tagging OSU starter Monica Hoffman for five runs on nine hits. The lineup contributed from top to bottom with seven different players accounting for at least one hit. Tournament MVP Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) produced again for Michigan, going 2-for-4 from the plate including a clutch single that resulted in the Maize and Blue's second run of the contest. Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) also had a stellar game, going 2-for-3 including a run scored and a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth.

Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) had the start for the Wolverines but was taken out of the game after giving up the solo home run and then three successive singles to load the bases with two outs in the first inning. Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) came on in relief and pitched a gem for her 22nd win of the season. She gave up just one run on four hits in 6.2 innings.

Down 1-0 to begin the second day of the contest, the Wolverines were unable to bring any runs home until the bottom of the third when an RBI double from Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) scored Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS), who was hit by a pitch with two outs, from first to tie the game at one.

Michigan broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together five straight hits to put four runs on the board and take a 5-1 lead. The scoring drive was highlighted by Doe's triple over the centerfielder's head with runners on second and third that pushed U-M's lead to 4-1.

The Wolverines will now head to Porter/ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla., to face off against the LSU Tigers in the first game of the WCWS. The game will take place Thursday (May 27) at 11 a.m. CDT and will be televised by ESPN.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423