U-M Rallies Past Louisville for 14th Straight Win

Sunday, March 16

Louisville, Ky.

Noon

Michigan

21-2

Louisville

10-10

Louisville

Michigan

3/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Louisville, Ky. (Ulmer Stadium)
Score: #9 Michigan 5, Louisville 2
Records: U-M (21-2), Louisville (10-10)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 20 -- vs. UNLV (9 a.m. PDT), Fresno State (1:30 p.m.) at Judi Garman Classic (Fullerton, Calif.)

Boxscore | Video Report

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For the second time in as many games, the No. 9-ranked University of Michigan softball rallied from a one-run deficit to defeat host Louisville, 5-2, on the third and final day of the Louisville Tournament on Sunday (March 16) at Ulmer Stadium. The Wolverines scored four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to roll to their 14th consecutive victory.

Senior leftfielder Alessandra Giampaolo(Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) paced Michigan's offensive efforts, hitting a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with a run batted in. Sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus(Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) and sophomore designated player Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) each drove in a pair of runs on base hits in the deciding fifth frame.

Freshman Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS), just a day removed her first collegiate no-hitter, tossed another gem from the circle, striking out 12 Cardinal batters and allowing four hits and a pair of unearned runs through six innings pitched. The U-M rookie, after losing her collegiate debut, has claimed 12 consecutive wins.

The only batter that gave Taylor trouble was Louisville third baseman Chelsea Bemis, who accounted for two of her team's hits -- both doubles -- and drove in both Cardinal runs on a two-out two-bagger to leftfield in the top of the third. Louisville's baserunners had reached via a U-M fielding error and a hit batsman.

The Wolverines responded with a run scored in the home half of the frame to cut Louisville's lead to one. Junior shortstop Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice hit and subsequently raced home when Giampaolo knocked an RBI single to leftfield. The U-M captain accounted for the Wolverines' only two hits of the contest until the fifth inning when she kicked off the two-out rally that would produce her team's game-winning runs.

After a quick fly out and strikeout to open the frame, Giampaolo lifted her third straight single to the outfield and moved into scoring position when sophomore rightfielder Angela Findlay(Lockport, Ill./East HS) followed suit with a base hit up the middle. An intentional walk to senior second baseman Samantha Findlay(Lockport, Ill./East HS) loaded the bases and set up back-to-back two-RBI singles to the outfield from Viefhaus and Nemitz.

With Michigan's three-run cushion in place, Taylor took over and, after giving up a leadoff double to Bemis in the sixth, retired six straight batters, striking out four, to close the game.

The Wolverines (21-2) will travel to Fullerton, Calif., next weekend (March 20-22) to participate in the annual Judi Garman Classic at the Titan Softball Complex. Michigan will open the tournament against UNLV at 9 a.m. PDT before facing Fresno State at 1:30 p.m.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423