Merchant HR, Wilson One-Hitter Pace U-M at Wisconsin

Saturday, April 9

Madison, Wis.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

38-3, 5-1

Wisconsin

12-15, 3-3

Wisconsin

Michigan

4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. -- In what might have been the Wolverines' best all-around game since garnering the No. 1 national ranking on March 22, the University of Michigan softball team used efficient pitching, solid defense and a balanced offense to beat Wisconsin 8-0 in six innings this afternoon (Saturday, April 9) and up its record to 38-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten.

Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) earned her team-best 17th win of the season, striking out eight and allowing just one hit in 6.0 innings of work. She received all the support she would need in the third inning when senior shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) connected for her team-leading 14th home run of the season. Merchant finished 2-4 with four runs batted in, while Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) contributed two hits and two RBI.

As has often been the case this season, the table was set at the top of the order in the third inning when Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) and Giampaolo drew consecutive one-out walks in front of Merchant.

Wisconsin did not put its first hit -- and as it turned out the Badgers' only hit -- on the board until a single to lead off the fourth. With a runner on first, nobody out and the heart of the Badger order coming up, this was their opportunity to get back into the game. Wilson, however, struck out Kristin Zacher for the second time and then set down cleanup hitter Boo Gillette on strikes. A harmless ground ball to second base ended the inning and Wilson would not allow another Wisconsin baserunner. She only allowed two for the entire game, also issuing a two-out walk in the second.

Michigan played a flawless game on the defensive end with Merchant leading the way with four assists. The Wolverines had committed 12 errors in their five previous games.

Michigan erased any remaining Wisconsin hopes in the fourth with three more runs, this all after two were out. Giampaolo delivered the big blow, doubling home a pair and then scoring on a Merchant single, which was good for her fourth RBI of the game.

After Wilson set down the Badgers in order in the fifth and sixth, the Wolverines benefited from a pair of Wisconsin errors in a two-run sixth to win via the run rule. Giampaolo singled and eventually scored the game's final run on a single from Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS).

N O T E S

Jessica Merchant's four RBI give her 41 for the season and give her the team lead in that category ahead of Samantha Findlay (39).

Alessandra Giampaolo's two-run double in the fourth was her 10th of the season, which ties for the team lead with leadoff hitter Tiffany Haas. The leadoff and No. 2 hitters in the Michigan order have hit 20 of the 56 doubles on the team this season.

Michigan is now 14-1 on the road this season.

Lorilyn Wilson's shutout is her seventh of the season and U-M's 20th.

Jessica Merchant now leads the team with 10 multi-RBI games this season. The senior has 10 RBI in her last three games.

Alessandra Giampaolo scored three runs today to match a career best. She also crossed home plate three times vs. Middle Tennessee State on March 25.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423