U-M Continues to Roll at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Saturday, February 24

Columbus, Ga.

3:30 PM

Michigan

12-1

Southern Illinois

11-3

Southern Illinois

Michigan

2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Stadium)
Event: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Score: #13 Michigan 2, #24 Southern Illinois 0; 13 Michigan 10, North Carolina 2
Records: U-M (13-1), UNC (8-7); SIU (11-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 25 -- Virginia Tech at NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.), 11:00 a.m.

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan softball team continued to roll through competition at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with wins over No. 24 Southern Illinois (2-0) and North Carolina (10-2, five innings) on Saturday (Feb. 24) at the South Commons Complex.

The 20-team Leadoff Classic field has been whittled down to four teams in the Gold Bracket semifinals, with Michigan facing Virginia Tech in one semifinal tomorrow at 11 a.m. The other semifinal pits Tennessee Tech vs. Georgia Tech. The winners face off in the championship game at 1 p.m.

Registering season-highs with 10 runs and 13 hits, Michigan lit up the scoreboard early and added another big inning late in the nightcap against North Carolina to take the run-rule victory -- its second of the season -- after the fifth frame. Seniors Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) and Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) led the Wolverines at plate with three hits a piece, including Milian's first collegiate home run.

After back-to-back singles from junior Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) and Milian to kick off the contest, junior Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) ripped a double down the rightfield line to initiate a five-run opening inning. With two outs, the Wolverines capitalized on two Tarheel errors, as Milian scored on an errant throw from homeplate and sophomore Allison Kidman (Tarpon Springs, Fla./Countryside HS) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Freshman Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) picked up her first collegiate RBI on a single to leftfield, extending the U-M advantage with two more runs scored.

After UNC earned a run in the bottom of the inning with a pair of singles and a sacrifice hit, Milian led of the subsequent frame with a solo shot over the outfield fence -- her first collegiate home run in 180 appearances. The Tarheels kept pace in the bottom half when Sam Ingersoll came home on a wild pitch by freshman pitcher Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS).

Junior Angie Danis (Manchester, Mo./Parkway West HS) and freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) registered a pair of two-run blasts to highlight the top of the fourth frame and earn the Wolverines the necessary eight-run cushion late in the game. Worthy led off the inning with a single to right center.

Nemitz improved her record on the season to a perfect 6-0, striking out two while allowing five hits in the abbreviated contest. Senior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) earned a complete-game, one-hit effort in the day's first game, a 2-0 decision over the Salukis. Wilson struck out five in her second shutout performance of the season.

After three scoreless innings against Southern Illinois, the Wolverines struck first in the bottom of the fourth as freshmen catcher Roya St. Clair (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) and Angela Findlay drove in runs in back-to-back at-bats, giving U-M the only lead it would need as Wilson retired nine straight batters to close out the contest.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423