U-M Ekes Out Doubleheader Sweep Over Wisconsin

Sunday, April 29

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

39-9, 10-3

Wisconsin

26-18, 5-10

Wisconsin

Michigan

4/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Score: #9 Michigan 2, Wisconsin 1; #9 Michigan 2, Wisconsin 0
Records: U-M (40-9, 11-3 Big Ten), Wisconsin (26-19, 5-11 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, May 1 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Alumni Field), 7 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan softball team persevered through a pair of low-scoring contests against Wisconsin, claiming the doubleheader sweep 2-0, 2-1, on Sunday (April 29) in front of 1,293 fans at Alumni Field.

With the first win of the afternoon, head coach Carol Hutchins claimed her 1,000th win in her 23-year stint as the Wolverines' leader. Hutchins, who was 23-11 in one season at Ferris State (1982), earned her 1,000th overall win earlier this season (Feb. 28) when the Wolverines swept a doubleheader at Florida State. She is one of only seven coaches in college softball history to reach 1,000 victories.

With just four U-M runs scored in the twinbill, the Wolverines' relied on sound pitching and error-free defensive play to extend their winning streak against Wisconsin to 10 games. Senior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague) recorded her seventh shutout of the season, striking out nine batters and allowing just three hits in game one. Freshman Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) claimed the victory in the second game, allowing six hits and striking out four through six innings of work. Entering in relief with a runner on first in the final frame, Wilson retired three consecutive batters on eight pitches to earn her fourth save of the season.

Senior Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS), the Big Ten's reigning Player of the Week, batted 4-for-7 in the series with a run scored, hitting safely in three consecutive at-bats in the second contest. Freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) had two hits, an RBI and a walk on the day, while junior Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) and freshman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) each drove in a game-one run.

Michigan tallied a weekend-high seven hits in the second game, including three in the opening frame to set up its pair of runs -- all the Wolverines would need to hold on to the victory. Milian and Samantha Findlay kicked off the offensive charge with back-to-back singles and were advanced a base a piece after an illegal pitch from Wisconsin ace Eden Brock. Angela Findlay ripped a hard, low shot to deep centerfield to easily score Milian from third, while Samantha Findlay raced home after the Badgers' oufielder bobbled the ball.

Wisconsin challenged in the fourth inning, using three base hits to score its only run of the afternoon. The hits were separated by a pair of Nemitz strikeouts, and, after the run was scored, the U-M pitcher forced the final out as sophomore Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) nabbed the fielder's choice and stepped on second base. Wisconsin tallied one hit in each of the subsequent frames but never advanced the runner into scoring position.

In the first game, U-M scored the game-winning tally in the third after failing to take advantage of bases loaded in the previous frame. Junior Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) led off with her 18th double of the year, ripping a hard shot to left-center before advancing to third on a Brock wild pitch in the subsequent at-bat. Milian moved to first base as a result of that at-bat, swinging to complete the strikeout but safely reaching after Badger catcher Joey Daniels could not corrall a second pitch in the dirt. Samantha Findlay brought Giampaolo home with a sacrifice fly -- her second of the season -- to deep leftfield.

After driving home the first run, Findlay scored the second herself after leading off the sixth frame with a full-count walk. She advanced a pair of bases on her sister's sacrifice hit and a wild pitch before coming home when Viefhaus lined a hard grounder through the left-side gap, just past the glove of Wisconsin's outstretched shortstop. Findlay has scored a run for the Wolverines in three straight games.

The Wolverines will host a mid-week match up against cross-town rival Eastern Michigan on Tuesday (May 1). The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Alumni Field.