Weekly Release #6
3/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, March 30 -- at Bowling Green, 4 p.m.
Friday, April 1 -- vs. Iowa, 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 -- vs. Iowa, noon
Sunday, April 3 -- vs. Illinois (DH), noon
Wednesday, April 6 -- at Central Michigan (DH), 2 p.m.
Friday, April 8 -- at Wisconsin, 6 p.m. CDT
Saturday, April 9 -- at Wisconsin, noon CDT
Sunday, April 10 -- at Minnesota (DH), noon CDT
2005 RECORDS
Overall: 31-1 (.969)
Big Ten: 0-0 (.000)
Home: 0-0 / Away: 10-0 /Ntrl: 21-1
USA Today/NFCA Rank: No. 1 (March 23)
ESPN.com/USA Softball Rank: No. 1 (March 22)
First Pitch
After 32 games, including a 31-game win streak and a ascent to the top of the national polls, the No. 1-ranked Michigan softball team finally opens its home schedule with the Big Ten opener vs. 21st-ranked Iowa on Friday (April 1, 4 p.m.) at Alumni Field. Before opening the Big Ten and home slate, the Wolverines do get one more tune-up with a single game at Bowling Green on Wednesday (March 30, 4 p.m.). The Wolverines remain the hottest team in America after 4-0 this past weekend to claim the Louisville Classic title and extend their win streak to 31 games. Michigan closes out its opening Big Ten weekend with another single game vs. Iowa on Saturday (April 2, noon) and a doubleheader on Sunday April 3, noon) vs. Illinois.
Opponents
Bowling Green (8-16): The Falcons have won five of their last eight after a 3-0 loss to then-No. 1 Arizona on March 12 ... Bowling Green owns one victory this season over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 25 Northwestern 5-4 on March 6 ... Gina Rango leads the offensive attack, hitting .324 while Liz Vrabel has had the best year in the circle with a 2.43 ERA ... the Falcon pitching staff boasts a 2.65 ERA ... Bowling Green on the Internet: www.bgsufalcons.com ... Series: U-M leads, 23-5
No. 21 Iowa (27-5): The Hawkeyes have won five straight since a 6-2 loss to Oregon State on March 18 ... Iowa is 0-3 vs. ranked teams this season ... Iowa is hitting .287 as a team with six regulars hitting over .300 ... Emily Nichols leads this potent lineup, hitting .353 with a Big Ten-best 12 home runs ... Lisa Birrocci is the staff ace with a 16-4 mark and a 0.96 ERA and is the reigning Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Week with Michigan's Jennie Ritter ... Iowa on the Internet: www.hawkeyesports.com ... Series: Iowa leads, 50-39-1
Illinois (15-11): Illinois is 5-5 in its last 10, but did beat No. 20 Northwestern 5-3 in a non-conference tilt on March 26 ... Illinois is 2-4 this season vs. ranked teams with its other victory over a ranked team coming in a 5-3 decision over then-No. 5 LSU on Feb. 12 ... the Illini hit .280 as a team with five regulars hitting over .300 ... first baseman Jenna Hall leads the way with a .365 average and four home runs ... the pitching staff sports a 3.72 ERA, but Mary Miller leads the way with a 10-5 mark to go with a 3.12 ERA ... Illinois on the Internet: www.fightingillini.com ... Series: Michigan leads 3-0, last meeting 2004
The New No. 1
After winning a school record 27 straight games, defeating a No. 1 team for the first time with a 6-2 win over top-ranked Arizona on March 20, Michigan became just the seventh different school to earn the nation's No. 1 ranking in either of the two major polls. The Wolverines became only the fourth team and the first non-Pac-10 team to grab the nation's top billing in the three-year old ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 on March 22. One day later, the Wolverines became only the seventh team voted No. 1 by the 10-year old USA Today/NFCA poll. The only other schools to voted No. 1 in both polls are Arizona, California and UCLA.
Michigan-Bowling Green Series
Michigan and Bowling Green renew their annual series with the Wolverines having won 11 of the last 12 in the series, including a sweep last season at Alumni Field. Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) enjoyed one of her most productive games in a Michigan uniform last season in the twinbill vs. Bowling Green, going 3-5 with three home runs and nine RBI, including a grand slam in an 8-0 win in game one. The Wolverines won the nightcap 9-5. Michigan's split a doubleheader in its last trip to Bowling Green in 2003, winning 4-0 and dropping the nightcap 3-1.
Michigan-Iowa Renew Rivalry
The landscape of Big Ten softball might be changing, but one thing remains the same. When talk about conference championships and Women's College World Series berths comes up it usually starts with Michigan and Iowa. The two teams have won each of the past 10 Big Ten regular-season championships, with Michigan claiming seven and Iowa three. They are the only Big Ten teams to appear in the WCWS with Michigan making seven trips and Iowa four with the rivals reaching the WCWS together in 1995, '96, '97 and 2001. Not surprisingly, these teams have split their last 10 meetings, but the Wolverines have won three straight, including a doubleheader sweep last season on Iowa City, Iowa. Michigan won a pair of 3-1 decisions as Nicole Motcyka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) saved game one and then delivered a career-best, 13-strikeout performance in the nightcap.
Michigan-Illinois Matchup
Michigan is 5-2 all-time vs. Illinois and 1-1 vs. the Fighting Illini at Alumni Field. The Wolverines and Illini have split each of their last two season series, including a 1-1 series split last season in Champaign, Ill. Michigan took the series opener 4-2 behind a two-run home run from Nicole Motycka, who also came out of the bullpen to toss 2.2 innings of scoreless relief for the win. The Wolverines 2004 season-best 19-game win streak came to an end the following day in a 3-2 loss to the Illini.
Unbeaten Streak Next
Since dropping a 7-6 decision to No. 17 Baylor in the season opener on Feb. 12, the Wolverines have rolled to 31 straight victories, outscoring opponents 186-22. Michigan's 31-game win streak is the nation's longest current streak and the longest in the program's history. The Wolverines won 22 straight in 1993 en route to their second Big Ten title and NCAA Tournament appearance. The longest unbeaten streak in school history was a 33-game run in 1999 when the Wolverines went 32-0-1 from March 2 through April 13. The Wolverines won 16 straight before tying Iowa 2-2 on March 21 and then won another 16 straight before falling to Central Michigan on April 14.
Michigan's Longest Win Streaks
31 games (2005)
22 games (1993)
19 games (1995, 2004)
Consecutive Games Unbeaten
33 games (32-0-1) 1999
Ranked Foes
Iowa enters this week ranked No. 21 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll and provides the Wolverines with their 10th and 11th games this season vs. a ranked foe. Michigan is currently 8-1 vs. ranked teams, including eight straight wins since dropping the season opener to No. 17 Baylor on Feb. 12.
Michigan vs. Ranked Teams
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| 2/12/05 | #17 Baylor | L, 6-7 |
| 2/13/05 | #13 Oregon | W, 9-0 (5) |
| 2/25/05 | #13 Georgia Tech | W, 4-1 |
| 3/1/05 | #15 Florida | W, 4-0 |
| 3/1/05 | #15 Florida | W, 4-1 |
| 3/5/05 | #16 Florida | W, 6-2 |
| 3/17/05 | #24 Fresno State | W, 6-0 |
| 3/20/05 | #11 Texas | W, 7-0 |
| 3/20/05 | #1 Arizona | W, 6-2 |
The Streak, In-Depth
The Wolverines have been clearly the most dominant team in the nation during their 31-game run, beating eight ranked teams, including No. 1 Arizona, and outscoring its opponents 186-22. Sophomore hurler Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) is 12-0 with a 0.19 ERA during the streak and has led a Michigan pitching staff that has posted 17 shutouts in that time. Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) is 14-0 during the streak and owns eight of those shutouts, including a pair of no-hitters. Offensively, the Wolverines have had 11 different players belt out a total of 41 home runs and are hitting .318 as a team during the streak, led by Tiffany Haas' (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) .422 average.
Game Changers
Nothing changes the makeup or steals momentum more than a home run and the Wolverine have consistently used the long ball this season, connecting for home runs in 29 of 32 games. Michigan has had 11 different players hit a total of 44 home runs this season, which is just one shy of last season's total of 45 and only six shy of the Michigan single-season team record of 50 that was set in 2003. Eight of the 11 Wolverines to go deep this season have hit multiple home runs, led by Jessica Merchant's 10 and followed closely by the eight hit by freshman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS). The Wolverines have hit a home run in 11 straight games, beginning on March 6 vs. Pittsburgh. Michigan's top five single-season home run totals:
2003 (50)
2004 (45)
2005 (44)
2002 (37)
1998 (27)
Playing Best vs. the Best
Michigan's nine games this season vs. ranked teams have brought out the best in several Wolverines, but none more so than Nicole Motycka, who is hitting .464 with nine RBI. Tiffany Haas, who was at her best in garnering NCAA Region 6 MVP honors last season, brings her "A" game against the nation's best, hitting .429 with 11 runs scored, two home runs and two doubles. In the circle, Jennie Ritter has been virtually unhittable against some of the nation's best lineups, posting a 6-0 record with a 0.74 ERA and 48 strikeouts against just three walks in 38.0 innings.
Who's the Ace
Normally as a season wears on, the ace of a pitching staff begins to separate herself from the rest of the staff. Not in Michigan's case as the Wolverines currently have two bona fide aces in Jennie Ritter and Lorilyn Wilson. Ritter is the reigning Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Week, her second such honor this season, which matches the two weekly honors already garnered by Wilson. Ritter is 14-0, including two no-hitters, with a 0.76 ERA and leads the Wolverines with 128 strikeouts and eight shutouts. Wilson, however, makes just a strong of a case with a 12-0 record and a team-best 0.27 ERA as well as a team-best .110 batting average against. Wilson also has 117 strikeouts to put this tandem on pace to become the first in Michigan history with 150-plus strikeouts in the same season. The only pair to come close was Marissa Young (2000-03) and Marie Barda (1998-2001) with 185 and 143, respectively, in 2001.
Chart Climbing
Jennie Ritter rolled up 23 strikeouts this past weekend at the Louisville Classic while going 2-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA to earn her second Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor this season. Ritter now has 465 career strikeouts which matches Kelly Kovach (1992-95) for No. 3 on the all-time list.
Michigan's Career Strikeout Leaders
| Strikeouts | Wolverine | Years |
| 927 | Marissa Young | 2000-03 |
| 602 | Sara Griffin | 1995-98 |
| 465 | Kelly Kovach | 1992-95 |
| 465 | Jennie Ritter | 2003-c |
Leading by Example
Junior leadoff hitter and second baseman Tiffany Haas has been the most consistent offensive performer for the Wolverines this season and is currently riding a career best and Michigan season-best 14-game hit streak. Haas has hit safely in 29 of 32 games this season and is a big reason the Wolverines have scored in the first inning 17 times this season. In fact, the first inning has been Michigan's most productive this season with 38 runs scored. Haas is currently second in the Big Ten with a .425 batting average and has not struck out in 113 at-bats. Not simply a contact hitter, Haas has slugged four home runs, driven in 16 and is slugging .611.
Youth is Served
Despite returning three All-Americans and an All-Big Ten third baseman to its hitting lineup this season, Michigan has relied pretty heavily on freshmen Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) and throughout the season. Neither has disappointed and each enjoyed productive weekends at the Louisville Classic. Giampaolo, who has started every game this season in centerfield and at the No. 2 spot in the order, hit .545 over the weekend with two doubles and four runs scored. She has hit safely in 18 of her last 21 games and is tied for the team lead with nine doubles. Findlay homered in her first game as a Wolverine and has not looked back, hitting .364 this past weekend at Louisville with her eighth home run of the season and five RBI.
Louisville Classic Champs
Michigan won its third non-conference tournament of the season this past weekend with a 4-0 record at the Louisville Courtyard by Marriott Classic, including two wins over the host Cardinals. All-American shortstop Jessica Merchant enjoyed one of her best weekends of the season, hitting .636 with three home runs, eight RBI and a 1.455 slugging percentage. Merchant's two solo home runs accounted for Michigan's only two runs in a 2-0 win over Western Kentucky to open the tournament. After a 17-1 win over Middle Tennessee State, Merchant drove in the game winner in a 2-1 win over host Louisville to close out pool play. She hit her third home run of the weekend and drove in three runs a 7-0 win over Louisville in the championship game. Merchant's three RBI were more than enough for Jennie Ritter, who tossed her eighth complete-game shutout of the season and second of the weekend.
Merchant, Ritter Conference Honorees
Jessica Merchant became the first Wolverine to earn Big Ten Player of the Week for her efforts at the Louisville Classic while Jennie Ritter earned her second and the team's fourth Big Ten Pitcher of the Week distinction as announced by the conference office on Monday (March 28).
Milestone Watch
Tiffany Haas has started 111 straight games for the Wolverines at second base. Haas last missed a start in game two of a doubleheader vs. Eastern Michigan on April 29, 2003.
Tiffany Haas has scored 120 career runs and is two runs shy of surpassing Kari Kunnen (1990-93) and moving into ninth on the all-time list.
Tiffany Haas has 13 career home runs and her next home run will move her into a tie for eighth on the Michigan career list with former All-American Sara Griffin (1995-98).
Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) has 19 career home runs and is in a tie for sixth place on the all-time list. Her next home run will move her into a tie for fourth place with Stefanie Volpe (1999-2002) and Melinda Moulden (2000-03).
Grace Leutele and Jessica Merchant are tied with 39 career doubles and each remain one double from moving into a sixth-place tie on the career list with Tracy Carr (1993-96).
Jessica Merchant has 120 career RBI which is four shy of matching Patti Benedict (1990-93) for ninth on the career list.
Jessica Merchant is five runs shy of reaching 100 for her career.
Nicole Motykca has 12 career home runs and is one shy of matching teammate Tiffany Haas for ninth on the all-time list.
Nicole Motycka's next victory in the circle will be the 66th of her career and move her into sole possession of fifth on the all-time list.
Jennie Ritter has 465 career strikeouts and her next strikeout will move her into sole possession of third place on the U-M career list.
Season Highlights
Big Ten Honors
Sophomore hurler Lorilyn Wilson went 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 11.2 innings at the FAU Classic to earn tournament MVP honors. Those efforts bumped her Michigan career record to 10-0 and garnered the Oregon native her first-ever Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award. She won the award again on March 22 after shutting out No. 11 Texas and earning the save with two inning of scoreless relief vs. No. 1 Arizona.
Jennie Ritter earned Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Week honors after tossing two no-hitters vs. No. 15 Florida (March 1) and South Florida (March 4) and then matching a career-best with 15 strikeouts in another win over then-No. 16 Florida (March 5). It was the second such honor of the junior's career.
Home Run King
Senior shortstop Jessica Merchant is second on the team with six and recently became the Wolverines all-time home run leader when she hit the 29th of her career vs. in a 2-1 win over Chattanooga on March 4, breaking the former mark of 28 held by Melissa Gentile (1997-2000).
Michigan's Career Home Run Leaders
| Home Runs | Wolverine | Years |
| 35 | Jessica Merchant | 2002-c |
| 28 | Melissa Gentile | 1997-00 |
| 22 | Marissa Young | 2000-03 |
| 20 | Stefanie Volpe | 1999-02 |
| 20 | Melinda Moulden | 2000-03 |
Three No-No's
Though the season is only about one-third complete, Michigan's pitching staff has already tossed three no-hitters, just one shy of the school record of four that was tossed during the 1996 campaign. Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) started things with a five-inning no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Rutgers on Feb. 19. Jennie Ritter then got in the act with the second of her career in a 4-0 win over #15 Florida on March 1. Ritter made the total three for her career and three for the season for Michigan with a five-inning effort in a 9-0 win over South Florida on March 4. Ritter's three career no-hitters is second on the all-time list behind the four recorded by Vicki Morrow (1984-87).
Kia Klassic Champs
Expect anothe bump in the polls this week after Michigan went a perfect 6-0 this past weekend en route to the Kia Klassic title in Fullerton, Calif. The Wolverines beat No. 24 Fresno State (6-0) and No. 11 Texas (7-0) on the way to a championship game victory over No. 1 Arizona for the Maize and Blue's first-ever win over a top-ranked team. Tiffany Haas hit .400 over the weekend while Grace Leutele connected for three home runs. Jennie Ritter and Lorilyn Wilson each went 3-0 in the circle while combining for 49 strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed in 38.8 innings of work.
Wilson's Streak
Lorilyn Wilson was touched for an earned run in the bottom of the seventh of a 2-1 win over Louisville on March 26, ending her string of 61.0 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. It was the first time she allowed an earned since the fourth inning of a 9-1 win over Florida Atlantic on Feb. 20. She had allowed just two runs total during that 61.0-inning stretch and struck out 93 while walking only seven and surrendering just 23 hits. She went 10-0 with six complete games, five shutouts and one save over that 61-inning stretch.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
