Wildcats' Big Inning Knocks U-M From Big Ten Tourney

Friday, May 11

Columbus, Ohio

5:00 PM

Michigan

43-11

Northwestern

45-10

Michigan

Northwestern

5/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan softball team was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament after falling to second-seeded Northwestern 5-2 in the semifinal round Friday evening (May 11) at Buckeye Field. The Wildcats rallied from an early deficit, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning to seal the victory.

The Wolverines took the early advantage in the top of the second frame, manufacturing a run off a pair of hits and a Northwestern error. Freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) led off the inning with a hard grounder to Northwestern first baseman Garland Cooper -- who was pulled in close -- and Findlay legged it out to earn the close call at the bag. Senior Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) followed with a hard shot back to the pitching circle and -- when Northwestern pitcher Eileen Canney's relay to first went awry -- Findlay scampered off the third base. The extra base proved beneficial in the subsequent at-bat when freshman Roya St. Clair (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) sent a high sacrifice fly ball to rightfield, allowing Findlay to tag up and come home.

Michigan added another run in the third frame as junior centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) picked up a base hit and a steal to put herself in scoring position. Junior Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) brought her home with an RBI single up the middle. Giampaolo's hit found the left-side gap, ricocheting off the outstretched glove of NU third baseman Darcy Sengewald, which prevented the Michigan captain's opportunity for extra bases. Giampaolo moved herself to second with her fifth stolen base of the season and Findlay brought her home, lining a hard shot into centerfield to earn her second RBI of the afternoon.

Northwestern took over in the bottom half of the inning, however, taking advantage of a bases-full scenario to score four runs and steal the lead. Freshman starting pitcher Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) intentionally walked second baseman Nicole Pauly to set up the force at every base, but the Wolverine pitcher hit catcher Erin Dyer in the head and walked designated player Jessica Rigas -- both with full counts -- to bring in two runs. A pitching change brought senior Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) into the game, but Northwestern continued its momentum as Cooper -- in the next at-bat -- ripped a full-count double down the leftfield line to score two more.

The Wildcats added one more in the bottom of the fourth on another Cooper double. Shortstop Tammy Williams walked to lead off the frame and scored when Cooper, the three-time Big Ten Player of the Year, launched a deep shot to centerfield that banked off the wooden outfield fence.

After Northwestern took the lead, Michigan's only scoring opportunity came in the top of the fourth when junior pinch runner Michelle Weatherdon (Marquette, Mich./Marquette HS) reached third base. Weatherdon replaced St. Clair -- who singled up the middle -- on first base and put herself in scoring position by stealing second for her second stolen base of the season. Freshman Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) fouled out in the subsequent at-bat, but when Sengewald carried the ball out of play, Weatherdon was awarded third base. Canney, however, earned a strikeout -- one of seven she had in the game -- to end the threat.

Michigan will await the NCAA Division I Softball Selection Show, which will air live on ESPNews on Sunday (May 13) between 3-4 p.m. EDT, to learn the 64-team field and the 16 regional sites. Regionals begin on Friday (May 18) and run through Sunday (May 20) with the 16 regional champions advancing to the Super Regional round (May 25-26).

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423