Michigan Drops Final Two at Judi Garman Classic

Saturday, March 17

Fullerton, Calif.

9:00 AM PT

Michigan

23-2

Arizona

20-6

Arizona Wildcats

Michigan

3/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Fullerton, Calif. (Titan Softball Complex)
Event: Judi Garman Classic
Score: #5 Arizona 2, #9 Michigan 1; Penn State 5, #9 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (23-3), Arizona (20-6); Penn State (23-12)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 23 -- vs. California

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The seventh-ranked University of Michigan softball team had its season-best 19-game win streak broken Saturday morning (March 17) in a 2-1 loss to No. 5 Arizona, before dropping a 5-3 contest against Big Ten rival Penn State in Cal State-Fullerton's Judi Garman Classic at the Titan Softball Complex. Michigan freshman starter Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina) allowed four hits in a complete-game effort against the Wildcats but a pair of two out runs spelled her first career loss.

Freshman catcher Roya St. Clair (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) hammered a career-high three hits in the second game of the day from the clean-up spot. Senior catcher Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) and freshman third baseman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) both contributed two hits and an RBI in the losing effort versus Penn State.

Penn State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Michigan quickly erased the deficit in the bottom half of the opening frame. Back-to-back singles from Worthy and Viefhaus drove Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) and junior first baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) in to give U-M a 2-1 lead.

Michigan held the lead until the sixth when Penn State posted a three-run surge, adding another run in the seventh to claim the 5-2 victory. Senior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) struck out eight and allowed one run in the loss.

Nemitz struck out five Wildcats while issuing two free passes in the first blemish on her collegiate record in the first game against the Wildcats. Freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) continued her tournament-long hit streak with a fourth-inning single. Findlay went 8-for-15 in this year's tournament.

Junior centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic) scored Michigan's lone run in the bottom of the third inning, as the Wolverines once again scored off the assistance of a wild pitch. The Wolverines loaded the bases with one out on singles from Giampaolo and Milian and a hit-by-pitch of Samantha Findlay. Despite the threat, Michigan could only push Giampaolo across two batters later on a wild pitch.

The lead was short lived, as the Wildcats put two quick runs on the board in the road-half of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Caitlin Lowe opened the inning with a single; Lowe was moved into scoring position when Nemitz tried to get the lead runner off of a Chelsie Mesa single. Nemitz was able to grab two quick outs, but Jenae Leles connected on a pitch to right field, driving in the two runs.

The Wolverines wrap up their preseason tournament circuit at the Louisville Red and Black Classic in Louisville, Ky., Friday-Sunday (March 23-25). Michigan opens the classic with a game against California Friday (March 23) at 12:30 p.m.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423