Michigan
54-4
Wisconsin
31-22
Michigan Rolls Past Iowa for Big Ten Tournament Crown
5/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament
Scores: #1 Michigan 10, Wisconsin 1 (5 innings); #1 Michigan 7, #22 Iowa 2
Records: U-M (55-4), Wisconsin (31-22), Iowa (48-12)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sun., May 20-22 -- at NCAA Regional (Site TBA)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan softball team took the Big Ten Conference Tournament championship for the seventh time today (Saturday, May 14) after a 7-2 win over Iowa at Alumni Field. The Wolverines earned their spot in the championship game by coasting through a 10-1, five-inning victory over Wisconsin earlier today in the semifinal round. With the tournament win, the Wolverines earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship, which begins next weekend (May 20-22) with 16 four-team, regionals.
Starting pitcher Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) was solid for the Wolverines, earning her 28th win of the season in a dominating 11-strikeout performance against Iowa. Ritter, who was named to the all-tournament team, allowed only four hits through seven innings. After allowing just three hits through 5.2 innings, she almost put together a complete-game shutout, but a two-run home run from Hawkeye Kylie Murray with two out in the sixth ended the shutout bid.
The top of the Wolverine batting order lit it up against the Hawkeyes, going a combined 6-for-11 with a home run and four RBI. Shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) continued her hot hitting throughout the tournament, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Merchant, who led the tournament in hits (8), runs scored (6), RBI (7), doubles (4), home runs (2) and total bases (18), was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP. Second baseman Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) came through in the clutch for the championship game, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored after recording just one hit in the previous two tournament contests.
Michigan wasted no time at the plate against Iowa, putting five runs on the board in the first two innings. In the first, a one-out double from Merchant put runners on second and third before a walk to first baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) loaded the bases for third baseman Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS). Leutele responded with a double to centerfield to give Michigan a 2-0 lead.
The Wolverines put up three more runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Merchant belted her second double of the afternoon to score two and give the Maize and Blue a 4-0 advantage. A single from Findlay added another tally to the Michigan cause for a five-run lead after two innings.
Ritter gave her offense plenty of room to work with, striking out seven of the first eight hitters she faced. A two-run blast from centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic) in the fourth inning gave the Michigan hurler an even bigger cushion to work with as the Wolverines headed into the sixth frame with a 6-0 lead.
With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Ritter allowed the Hawkeyes their only runs of the afternoon in the form of a two-run home run. Iowa's offensive effort was short-lived, however, as Ritter went on to retire the final four hitters in the contest for the 7-2 championship victory.
Earlier in the day, Michigan took a 10-1 semifinal victory over Wisconsin via the run-rule. Starting pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) earned her 22nd win of the season, allowing one run and four hits while striking out seven in the five-inning contest.
The Wolverines spread their offense from the top of the lineup through the bottom as eight different players recorded at least one hit. Merchant went 3-for-4, recording a home run, double and a single with two RBI and two runs scored. It was the second time in this tournament she was only a triple shy of the cycle. Giampaolo also went 3-for-4, recording three singles and one run scored.
Michigan got things going offensively in the top of the second on a two-run home run by rightfielder Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale HS) for a 2-0 lead. The Wolverines broke it open in the top of the third, recording four runs on seven hits. Merchant started things off with a one-out home run before an RBI single from Leutele gave Michigan a 4-0 lead. Run-scoring singles from catcher Becky Marx (St. Joseph, Mich./Lakeshore HS) and Haas closed the inning with a 6-0 Wolverine advantage.
Michigan sealed the deal in the top of the fifth inning, recording four more runs for a 10-1 lead. An RBI double from Merchant started things off before a three-run home run from Findlay gave the Wolverines the nine-run advantage. Wilson closed out the contest in the bottom of the fifth frame, retiring all three hitters in order for the victory.
The 64-team NCAA Championship field and 16 regional sites will be announced Sunday (May 15) at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPNews.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilson, Lorilyn (22-2)
L: Eden Brock (20-9)
Batting:
2B: Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1
HR: Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Findlay, Samantha 1 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 1
RBI: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 2 ; Findlay, Samantha 3 ; Leutele, Grace 1 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 2 ; Marx, Becky 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Giampaolo, Alessandra 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 2 ; Findlay, Samantha 2 ; Motycka, Nicole 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 2
HBP: Leutele, Grace 1
PO: Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Holland, Lauren 1
Batting:
HR: Athena Vasquez 1
RBI: Athena Vasquez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Athena Vasquez 1
