Ritter Fires One-Hitter in NCAA Super Regional Opener

Friday, May 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

59-4

Washington

34-21

Washington

Michigan

Jennie Ritter earned her sixth win of the 2005 postseason.

Ritter Fires One-Hitter in NCAA Super Regional Opener

5/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Rich Marion

Site: Ann Arbor, Mass. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Super Regional
Score: #1 Michigan 4, #21 Washington 1
Records: U-M (59-4), UW (34-21)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 28 -- vs. Washington at NCAA Super Regional (Alumni Field), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan softball team took a 4-1 decision in the first game of a best-of-three match-up against No. 16 seed University of Washington in the first-ever NCAA Super Regional in front of a record-setting 2,311 fans this evening (Friday, May 27) at Alumni Field. Starting pitcher Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) pitched a gem, working a no-hitter through 6.1 innings before a solo home run by Husky catcher Kristen Rivera spoiled the no-hitter and the shutout.

Despite losing the no-hitter, Ritter backed the Wolverines (59-4) with a stellar performance, earning her 32nd win of the season. While Michigan had trouble putting its offense together throughout the first four innings, Ritter kept Washington (34-21) at bay, retiring 19 batters in order after giving up a walk to lead off the game. She gave up just one hit and two walks in seven innings while striking out 11.

With the stellar performance of both pitchers, the Michigan offense experienced difficulties along with the Washington offense. After being held scoreless for the first four frames, all of the U-M scoring took place in the bottom of the fifth. Though the Wolverine offense took awhile to warm up, it caught fire in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a solo home run by centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) to lead off the inning.

With a 1-0 lead, shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) continued the production with a single to rightfield before scoring on a throwing error from the Washington rightfielder after a double from designated player Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS). Motycka was the only Wolverine hitter to record multiple hits in the contest, finishing 2-for-4 with a single and a double.

With a 2-0 lead and runners on first and second, catcher Becky Marx (St. Joseph, Mich./Lakeshore HS) rounded out the Wolverine scoring. She crushed a single to center field, scoring third baseman Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) and rightfielder Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale HS). Marx finished the day 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBI.

Game two of Super Regional 1 will take place tomorrow (Saturday, May 28) at 2 p.m. at Alumni Field. A Michigan win would advance the Maize and Blue to the Women's College World Series; a Washington victory would force third and deciding game at 5 p.m.

Q U O T E S

Washington Head Coach Heather Tarr
On falling behind in the series 1-0 ... "We know we did not swing at the best pitches tonight, but Jennie Ritter was throwing very well. Regardless of what we are doing at the plate, we know Michigan is a great team and this would be a tough series, so we're looking forward to coming back tomorrow and taking another crack at this."

Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On the win overall ... "It was a battle and a hard-fought game, which is exactly what we expected from that team. Washington is an excellent team and we knew we would have to go through a great team to get to the series. This series is not over by a long shot because all we did was win one game tonight and we have to come back tomorrow ready to go."

U-M Junior Pitcher Jennie Ritter
On her performance tonight ... "It was a win. I don't really rank my performances, I just know we need another win to get to the Series. As a pitcher, you know when hitters are swinging at pitches they don't want to swing at, things are going your way."

N O T E S

• Michigan and Washington are now tied 5-5 in their all-time series.

• Michigan has won 13 straight since falling to 2-0 Penn State (April 22).

• Kristen Rivera hit her 20th home run of the season, upping her Washington career-leading mark to 78.

• Rivera's 20 home runs this season mark the fourth-best single-season total in Washington history, and she is five bombs away from the school record she set in 2003.

• Jennie Ritter's 11 strikeouts gave her a double-digit K total for the 14th time this season and upped her Michigan single-season record to 342.

• Michigan is now 52-0 when scoring first this season and is 53-2 when hitting a home run after Alessandra Giampaolo blasted her eighth of the season to open the scoring.