Michigan
1-0
Massachusetts
0-1
Wolverines Split Opening-Day Games at Kick-Off Classic
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Softball Stadium)
Event: Kick-Off Classic
Scores: #12 Michigan 1, Massachusetts 0; Maryland 2, #12 Michigan 0 (9 innings)
Records: Michigan (1-1), Massachusetts (0-1), Maryland (1-0)
Next U-M Events: Saturday, Feb. 9 -- vs. South Carolina (4 p.m.), at Florida International (8 p.m.) in Kick-Off Classic (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan softball team split a pair of games at the Florida Atlantic's Kick-Off Classic to open its 2008 season Friday (Feb. 8), eking past Massachusetts 1-0 before falling to Maryland 2-0 in nine innings at the FAU Softball Stadium. It marks the fifth time in eight seasons that the Wolverines have started their season with a 1-1 record.
Michigan struggled from the plate in both contests, combining for just nine total hits on the day, including three in the opener against UMass. Senior designated player Michelle Weatherdon(Marquette, Mich./Marquette HS) went 2-for-3 in the second contest to pace the U-M offensive efforts, while senior first baseman Samantha Findlay(Lockport, Ill./East HS) tallied a hit in each game, going 2-for-6 overall and smacking a double against the Terps.
Sophomore pitcher Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) posted the seventh shutout of her career in her 14th complete game, matching a career high with 10 strikeouts against UMass while allowing three hits, including two in the fourth inning. Freshman pitcher Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) was solid in her collegiate debut against Maryland, allowing four hits and striking out six in the nine-inning complete game.
Nemitz and Minutewomen ace Brandice Balschmiter turned the first day's contest -- both teams' season opener -- into a pitchers' duel, combining for 19 strikeouts, no walks and six total hits allowed. The Wolverine sophomore retired the side in five innings, striking out the top of UMass' lineup in the first and, with her team hanging to a narrow one-run advantage, sitting down nine straight in the final three frames.
The Wolverines' deciding run came with two outs in the third inning. After back-to-back groundouts to open the frame, junior shortstop Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) picked up Michigan's first hit of the contest, sending one up the middle before advancing herself to second base with the sixth stolen base of her career. With Ewing in scoring position, senior centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo(Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) ripped an RBI single down the leftfield line to give U-M the only tally it would need.
U-M was largely the cause of its own undoing in game two with four errors -- three of which came in the ninth inning -- and nine runners left on base. The Wolverines put runners in scoring position in each of the last seven innings -- the latter two due to the international tiebreaker, which places a runner on second base to start the inning -- but were unable to bring their teammates home.
The Terps scored their runs as a result of a sacrifice bunt, two singles and three fielding errors over just four plays in the top of the ninth.
Michigan continues action in the Kick-Off Classic on Saturday (Feb. 9), facing South Carolina at 4 p.m. and host Florida Atlantic at 8 p.m.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hickey (1-0)
L: Taylor, Jordan (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Lau 1
SH: Belak 1 ; Stewart 1 ; Bessho 1 ; Shaw 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lau 1 ; Booth 1
Batting:
2B: Findlay, Samantha 1 ; St. Clair, Roya 1
SH: Ewing, Teddi 1
Base Running:
SB: Findlay, Samantha 1
