Ritter Cruises, Motycka Homers in Win Over Hawkeyes

Saturday, April 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

33-2, 1-1

Iowa

28-6, 1-1

Michigan

Iowa

4/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan softball team endured the cold and its Big Ten Conference rival with a 3-1 victory over 24th-ranked Iowa this afternoon (Saturday, April 2) at Alumni Field. Less than 24 hours after Iowa snapped Michigan's 32-game win streak, junior Michigan hurler Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) went the distance, allowing only three hits and striking out 10, while Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) maintained her torrid pace at the plate with a two-run home run in the third that proved to be the difference.

The real story was Ritter, who yesterday came out of the bullpen and set down all 16 Hawkeyes she faced, striking out seven. She then set down the first four she faced this afternoon before a one-out Iowa home run by Kylie Murray ended the string. All Iowa could manage from that point was a bloop double later in second and a two-out double in the third. Ritter mowed down the final 13 Iowa hitters in order to up her season record to 15-0.

The Wolverines came out in the first inning with great exectution. Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) nailed a single shot past the Iowa shortstop to lead off the game and moved to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS). Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS), who was 2-3 with a double on the day, plated Haas on a line-shot single to centerfield for her team-leading 31st RBI of the season.

Michigan's lead was short-lived, however, as Iowa's Murray connected for a shot over the rightfield fence. A wind-aided bloop double followed, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position, but consecutive groundouts, including a nice play in the hole by Haas at second, kept the score deadlocked.

Michigan responded in its half of the third inning as Giampaolo eventually won a long battle at the plate and hit a rope over the third baseman's head for a single. Two groundouts later and Giampaolo was sitting on third when Motycka came up with a huge two-out, two-run home run that left Alumni Field in a hurry.

From that point, it was Ritter's show. Hawkeye shortstop Stacey May smacked a two-out double to right-center in the third, but Ritter retaliated with one of her 10 strikeouts.

Michigan put at least one runner on in every inning and threatened to break it open on a couple of occasions but a combination of great Iowa defense and bad baserunning by Michigan kept the Hawkeyes within striking distance. Iowa leftfielder Natalie Johnson fought the elements to make a diving catch to end the fourth with Michigan runners on second and third. Merchant then doubled with one out in the seventh and moved to third on a Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) single, her third of the game. Merchant, however, was caught in a rundown and an easy out at the plate.

None of it mattered in the end because Ritter was in control, registering seven of her 10 strikeouts over the last 4.1 innings of work and seeming to get stronger as the game wore on. She struck out two in the seventh, including her 10th of the game for the final out.

Michigan closes out its weekend home series tomorrow (April 3, noon) with a doubleheader vs. Illinois at Alumni Field. Illinois arrives in Ann Arbor after suffering a two-game sweep at the hands of Northwestern.

N O T E S

Nicole Motycka's home run today gave Michigan 49 for the season and moved the Maize and Blue one closer to the school record of 50 that was set just seasons ago. Michigan has now homered in 32 of its 35 games this season.

Jennie Ritter's 10 strikeouts today give her seven double-digit strikeout efforts this season.

After registering consecutive multi-hit games for the first time with a double and single in her career today, Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale HS) has hit safely in five straight games and in seven of her last eight.

Samantha Findlay's three-hit performance today is the first of her young career.

Today's 3-1 win over No. 24 Iowa gives Michigan a 9-2 record vs. ranked opponents this season.

Jessica Merchant went 2-3 today, giving her 14 multi-hit games this season. Tiffany Haas leads U-M in the category with 15.

Michigan has now scored in the first inning in 19 of 35 games this season. The Wolverines have outscored their opponents 40-6 in the first frame.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Coach Carol Hutchins
On Jennie Ritter's performance ... "I thought she was excellent today. She seemed to get stronger and more confident as the game progressed. We needed a big-time effort from her today and she gave it to us. I can't say enough about the way she pitched today because that is a good Iowa lineup she held to just three hits."

On the team bouncing back from yesterday's loss ... "Overall, I was pleased with how we responded to a little adversity. I thought we did a nice job in that regard, but from pitch to pitch, I'm still not sure our focus is where it needs to be."

On Nicole Motycka's effort at the plate ... "She has had a great year offensively. She has been one of our most consistent hitters and she is seeing the ball real well right now. She hit the ball hard last night and got a great piece of that home run today."

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423