Findlay's RBI Single Beats Wisconsin in Extra Innings

Friday, April 8

Madison, Wis.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

37-3, 4-1

Wisconsin

12-14, 3-2

Michigan

Wisconsin

Findlay's RBI Single Beats Wisconsin in Extra Innings

4/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Michigan softball team might be ranked No. 1 in the land for the third straight week, but the Wolverines found life on the road in the Big Ten pretty tough in a 3-2 extra-inning win over Wisconsin this evening (Friday, April 8) at Goodman Diamond. The Maize and Blue overcame an early 2-0 deficit as well as three errors when freshman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) produced maybe her biggest RBI as a Wolverine with a two-out, RBI single in the eighth for a 3-2 Michigan lead and eventual victory.

On in relief of starter Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), who struck out nine and did not allow an earned run in 6.1 innings, Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) got the final two outs of the seventh inning and pitched a perfect eighth for her 16th win of the season. Having outscored the opposition 232-50 heading into tonight's action, the Wolverines have not been forced to come from behind very often this season. In fact, tonight was just the second extra-inning game Michigan has played this season and only the eighth one-run game.

Ritter was sharp throughout, striking out the first two Badgers she faced, but second baseman Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) committed what proved to be a costly error when the next batter, Wisconsin cleanup hitter Boo Gillette, went deep and gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead in the first. It was only the fifth time this season an opponent scored in the first inning and only the sixth time this season an opponent scored first vs. Michigan.

Michigan's first time through the order was unsuccessful until Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) singled with one out in the third. Making her third start in the last four games, Milian has now hit safely in four straight. Haas followed with the first of her two hits, but a fielder's choice later and there were runners on the corners with two outs. Milian scored on a passed ball, and with first base open Wisconsin decided to pitch to Merchant, who delivered the first of two huge two-out, run-scoring singles on the evening for the Maize and Blue.

It was a pitchers duel over the next three innings as neither team was able to advance a runner into scoring position. The Wolverines broke through with a single and sacrifice bunt in the seventh but failed to cash in. Things became dangerous in the bottom of the seventh with consecutive one-out singles, but Michigan coach Carol Hutchins called on Wilson out of the pen and she responded with a strikeout and a fly ball to leftfield.

Just as Wisconsin capitalized on a Michigan miscue on the first, the Wolverines took advantage of two Badger errors in the eighth. The two mistakes left Michigan runners on the corner with two outs when Findlay delivered the game-winner. Wilson took care of the Badgers by herself in the eighth, forcing a ground ball back to the box and striking out two more.

Michigan and Wisconsin complete their two-game series tomorrow (April 9, noon CDT) in Madison, Wis.

N O T E S

Michigan is now 6-2 in one-run games and 2-0 in extra-inning games. The Wolverines' only other extra-inning game this season was a 2-1 win over Chattanooga on March 4.

Tiffany Haas' two-hit effort is her team-best 18th multi-hit game of the season.

Lorilyn Wilson now shares the team lead for wins at 16 with Jennie Ritter.

Michigan was held without a home run for just the fifth time in 40 games this season.

Tiffany Haas leads Michigan with 39 runs scored and has scored a run in eight of her last nine games.

Tiffany Haas, who now owns a six-game hit streak, has hit safely in 36 of Michigan's 40 games this season and has reached base in 37 of 40 games.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423