Merchant Sets Homer Mark; Another No-Hitter for Ritter

Friday, March 4

Tampa, Fla.

11:00 AM

Michigan

17-1

Tennessee Chattanooga

10-10

Michigan

Chattanooga

Merchant Sets Homer Mark; Another No-Hitter for Ritter

3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Field)
Event: USF Louisville Slugger Tournament
Score: #7 Michigan 2, Chattanooga 1 (8 innings); #7 Michigan 9, South Florida 0 (5 innings)
Records: U-M (18-1)
Next U-M Games: Saturday, March 5 -- vs. Temple (9 a.m.), vs. Florida (11 a.m.) at USF Louisville Slugger Tournament (Tampa, Fla.)

TAMPA, Fla. -- The seventh-ranked University of Michigan softball team continued its torrid pace on a record-setting afternoon Fridday (March 4) at the Louisville Slugger Tournament hosted by South Florida. Senior shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) is the new Michigan career home run king after belting her fourth of the season and 29th of her career in a 2-1 eight-inning win over Chattanooga.

Later in the day Michigan dumped host South Florida 9-0 in just five innings on the shoulders of Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), who tossed her second no-hitter of the week, and Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS), who connected for two home runs, including a grand slam and a career-best six RBI.

The win over Chattanooga was a classic pitchers' duel, with the Wolverines unable to mount much offense until Mechant's long ball in the fourth. Both teams had put runners in scoring position with two outs through the first three innings, but neither could come up with a big hit.

Michigan starter Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) allowed a leadoff single in the third and the runner advanced to second with one out before the Michigan senior came up with a strikeout and groundout. She seemed to take control after striking out the side in the fourth, but trouble arose in the fifth.

The inning began innocently enough, with the first two hitters retired in order, but a bunt single and infield single put a Chattanooga runner in scoring position for the third time. An RBI single ensued and both runners moved up on the throw, putting two Mocs in scoring position. Another groundout to Haas got Motycka out of the jam and kept the score tied.

Neither team really threatened in the sixth, setting the stage for a Chattanooga rally in the seventh. The leadoff hitter reached on a Merchant error, prompting Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to call on Lorilyn Wilson (Sprague, Ore./Salem HS) out of the bullpen. She answered the call with a strikeout, but consecutive singles loaded the bases with just one out. Wilson, however, delivered a big strikeout and another Chattanooga scoring threat was snuffed out by a ground ball to Haas.

Using the international tiebreaker, Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) was placed on second base to start the Michigan eighth and was driven in by Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS). Chattanooga was afforded the same opportunity in its half of the eighth but could not get the ball out of the infield as Wilson set down three straight for the win.

The day's second game was a different story as the Wolverines scored in the third, fourth and fifth innings while Ritter mowed down the Bulls. The junior, who tossed her second career no-hitter just three days ago in a win at No. 15 Florida, struck out the side in the first and never let up. South Florida did put two runners in scoring position in the third after a two-out walk and a Michigan error, but Ritter forced an infield popup and then set the side down in order in both the fourth and fifth frames.

After Michigan manufactured two runs in the third with just one hit, the Wolverines broke it open in the fourth after a costly USF error. Haas made the Bulls pay with a two-run home run and a 5-0 Michigan lead.

Timely hitting has been the name of the game for the Wolverines much of this season and the fifth inning was a perfect illustration as Michelle Teschler (Casco, Mich./Richmond HS) drew a key two-out walk to load the bases for Haas' second blast of the game and fourth of the season.

N O T E S

Jessica Merchant's new school record for home runs broke the old mark of 28, set by former All-American catcher Melissa Gentile (1997-2000).

Jennie Ritter now has three career no-hitters, which is second on the Michigan all-time list behind Vicki Morrow (1984-87), who has four.

Michigan has three no-hitters this season and that is the second-most by a Wolverine team. The 1996 Michigan squad tossed four.

Two of Michigan's no-hitters this season have been in games ended after five innings due the run rule. Nicole Motycka tossed a five-inning no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Rutgers on Feb. 19.

Tiffany Haas' grand slam is the second of her career. The first was a walk-off grand slam in a 7-3 win over Northwestern on the final day of the 2004 regular season to clinch the outright Big Ten title.

Alessandra Giampaolo's game-winning single vs. Chattanooga and 1-3 effort vs. South Florida give her a career-best eight-game hitting streak, which matches the longest of the season by a Wolverine.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423