2005 Big Ten Softball Tournament -- Game 7 Notes & Quotes

2005 Big Ten Softball Tournament

#1 Michigan 7, #22 Iowa 2
Game 7 -- Saturday, May 14 -- 2:30 p.m.
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.

NOTES AND QUOTES

Michigan Notes
Michigan claimed its seventh Big Ten Tournament championship and first since 2002 ... The Wolverines have now won both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships in the same season for the fifth time. Michigan also turned the trick in 1995, '96, '98 and 2002 ... Jessica Merchant was named tournament MVP after hitting .667 with a Big Ten Tournament-record four doubles to go with two home runs, seven RBI and a 1.500 slugging percentage ... Other Wolverines named to the Big Ten Tournament team included Alessandra Giampaolo, Jennie Ritter, Becky Marx, Grace Leutele, Stephanie Bercaw and Samantha Findlay ... Jessica Merchant's home run today gives her the lead in the race for the new single-season school record with 19. Samantha Findlay, who also homered today, has 18 ... Jennie Ritter's 11 strikeouts in the championship win over Iowa makes her just the second pitcher in Michigan history to record more than 300 strikeouts in a season. She has 304 and is only 15 shy of matching the Michigan single-season school record of 319 set by Marissa Young (2000-03) in 2002 ... Samantha Findlay does keep the team RBI lead with 60. Jessica Merchant has 59 ... Jessica Merchant now owns the team lead in batting average (.398) and is enjoying a nine-game hitting streak ... Michigan has homered in 51 of 59 games this season.

Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On Michigan's performance ... "I was pleased with our approach and the way we played all weekend. We had good performances throughout our lineup and I was especially pleased with how Rebekah Milian stepped up. She gave us a big boost from the No. 9 spot in the order and that is key to the success of any lineup. It also helps when your No. 7 hitter (Stephanie Bercaw) can step up and drive the ball out of the park. We have good, balanced lineup right now."

On the key to postseason success ... "I know we hit the ball well this weekend, but the key is still pitching and defense in this game. Jennie Ritter was excellent and I was happy to see Lorilyn Wilson throw as well as she did today. I thought she threw as well as she has in a while. Pitching is still the key to success in the postseason."

On the performance of Jessica Merchant ... "She was all about winning this weekend, and when she has that mindset she's a great player. I found out how bad she wanted to win last weekend in that Northwestern series, and now that her focus is right where it needs to be, she is playing the best ball of her career."

Iowa Notes
Iowa had won 18 of its last 20 heading into the championship game ... Lisa Birocci, who joined junior Jennie Ritter as the only two pitchers selected to the Big Ten all-tournament squad, racked up 19 2/3 innings with a 1.42 ERA, two wins and 25 strikeouts in the tournament ... Shortstop Stacy May, who batted 3-8 in the tournament with three runs, was also named to the all-tournament team ... It was the Hawkeyes' seventh trip to the Big Ten Tournament final game.

Iowa Head Coach Gayle Blevins
On the game overall ... "We certainly wanted to have a better game than what we had today, but Michigan set the tone from the beginning and did a great job. (Jennie) Ritter did a great job on the mound and their defense was just very aggressive. I like the way the infielders played -- a lot of the ground balls they played very assertive. And obviously, their offense was pretty powerful."

On the lack of offense the entire tournament ... "No, we're not focused on that. You look at the fact that we faced some of the best pitchers in the Big Ten and even in the NCAA. You look at Michigan and Northwestern's staff -- those are some awfully fine pitchers. A lot of time your big pitchers are going to shut a lot of offenses down."