Michigan
3-0
Utah
4-2
Michigan Bats Explode in Wins vs. Utah, No. 13 Oregon
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)
Event: Louisville Slugger Desert Classic
Scores: #8 Michigan 7, Utah 1; #8 Michigan 9, #13 Oregon 0 (5 innings)
Records: U-M (3-1), Oregon (5-2), Utah (4-3)
Next U-M Games: Friday, Feb. 18 -- vs. N.C. State (9 a.m.), vs. Pittsburgh (11 a.m.) at Florida Atlantic Tournament (Boca Raton, Fla., Fla.)
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The eighth-ranked University of Michigan softball team rebounded quite nicely from its season-opening loss to No. 17 Baylor (7-6) with three straight wins, including wins over Utah (7-1) and Oregon (9-0 in five innings) today (Sunday, Feb. 13) to close out its action at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. The Wolverine bats were the story all weekend, especially in today's impressive shutout of Oregon, which entered the game 5-1 on the season and ranked 13th in the nation.
Michigan pounded out 12 hits, four extra-base hits and two home runs to back another strong outing from junior hurler Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) in the win over Oregon. Offensively, Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) closed out an impressive weekend with a 3-4 effort that included a home run and three runs scored, while Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) went 3-3 at the plate.
As she did for most of the weekend, Haas set the table for a four-run Michigan first, making it the second time this weekend the Wolverines scored four in the first inning. Haas' leadoff single got things started and eventually helped to load the bases with just one out for Motycka, who sent a single into leftfield. Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) followed with a two-run double and Becky Marx (St. Joseph, Mich./Lakeshore HS) added an RBI single to give Michigan 12 first-inning runs for the tournament.
Ritter allowed only a two-out single in the fourth and a one-out single in the fifth as only one Duck baserunner made it past first base. Ritter's most impressive inning of work was the third, when she struck out the side looking.
Michigan added to the lead in the second when Haas again set the table with a leadoff single. She eventually scored on a Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) sacrifice fly before Motycka drove in her second run with a single. Already up 6-0, the Wolverines added to the lead with three runs in the third, highlighted by back-to-back two-out solo home runs from Michelle Teschler (Casco, Mich./Richmond HS) and Haas.
Oregon did push a runner to third with two outs in the fifth, but Ritter finished her first shutout of the season by inducing a foulout to third base.
The Michigan bats actually woke up earlier in the morning when Michigan began the day at 8:30 a.m. PST against Utah. The Wolverines collected 12 hits against the Utes as well, cruising to a 7-1 victory for Motycka's first win of the season in the circle. Again Haas started a Michigan rally with a single, and the Wolverines scored two first-inning runs with the help of a Utah error.
The Wolverines played more long ball in a two-run third inning with a pair of freshmen doing all the damage. Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) doubled and scored on Findlay's second career home run.
Utah scratched across a run in the fifth, but a larger inning for the Utes was shut down when Giampaolo gunned down a potential run at the plate from centerfield. Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) relieved Motycka in the fifth to get the Wolverines out of any further damage, and Michigan put the game out of reach with three more in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale HS).
Michigan returns to the diamond next weekend (Feb. 18-20) at the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. The Wolverines open up play at the FAU tourney on Friday (Feb. 18) against N.C. State (9 a.m.) and Pittsburgh (11 a.m.).
N O T E S
Michigan's offense pounded out 44 hits over the four-game tournament, including 11 doubles and eight home runs.
Samantha Findlay was the only Wolverine with two home runs. The other Wolverines to go deep were Tiffany Haas, Grace Leutele, Michelle Teschler, Jessica Merchant, Alessandra Giampaolo and Tiffany Worthy.
Michigan's offensive star for the tournament was Tiffany Haas, who hit .600 (9-15) with four doubles, five runs scored and two RBI.
Freshman cleanup hitter Samantha Findlay did not disappoint in her Michigan debut, collecting two home runs, a double and five RBI for the weekend.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Motycka, Nicole (0-0)
L: NIELSEN, Lindsie (3-1)
S: Wilson, Lorilyn (1)
Base Running:
RUNS: CROUSE, Meghan 1
CS: PHILLIPS, Diana 1
HBP: NYGAARD, Kate 1
Batting:
2B: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Giampaolo, Alessandra 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 1
HR: Findlay, Samantha 1
RBI: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Findlay, Samantha 2 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Giampaolo, Alessandra 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Findlay, Samantha 1 ; Motycka, Nicole 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 1
