Viefhaus, Shaw Provide Power in Pair of Shutout Victories

Friday, March 21

Fullerton, Calif.

2:00 PM PT

Michigan

23-3

Arizona

19-7

Arizona

Michigan

Viefhaus, Shaw Provide Power in Pair of Shutout Victories

3/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Fullerton, Calf. (Anderson Family Field)
Event: Judi Garman Classic (Day 2)
Scores: #6 Michigan 2, #7 Arizona 0; #6 Michigan 2, #25 San Diego State 0
Records: U-M (24-3), Arizona (19-7), SDSU (25-10)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 22 -- vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at Judi Garman Classic (Fullerton, Calif.), 1:30 p.m.

Boxscores:Game 1 | Game 2

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team claimed a pair of 2-0 decisions Friday afternoon (March 21) at the annual Judi Garman Classic, shutting out No. 7 Arizona and No. 25 San Diego State at Cal State Fullerton's Anderson Family Field.

The Wolverines (24-3), who had a 15-game winning streak snapped yesterday, received solid pitching performances by sophomore Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) and freshman Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS), while sophomore third baseman Maggie Viefhaus(Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) and freshman first baseman Dorian Shaw(Burke, Va./Robinson SS) provided the offense, each hitting a two-run home run.

Nemitz took the mound in the day's opener against Arizona and moved her record to 11-1 with her fourth shutout of the season, allowing just two hits while striking out four. She opened the game with a walk to the Wildcat leadoff hitter, Brittany Lastrapes, but Lastrapes was erased from the bases when she left early from first and was called out, ending the early threat.

With the game scoreless in the top of the sixth, Arizona third baseman Jenae Lesles doubled down the leftfield line with two outs. After intentionally walking the next batter, Nemitz struck out Laine Roth to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, senior second baseman Samantha Findlay(Lockport, Ill./Lockport East HS) reached on a one-out error, and Viefhaus made the Wildcats pay for the mistake, driving a ball over the right-centerfield wall for her second home run of the season and a 2-0 Michigan lead. Nemitz set down the Wildcats in order in the top of the seventh to close out the contest.

A two-run home run was also the deciding factor against San Diego State in Michigan's second game of the day, with Shaw providing the power in the bottom of the second inning. After Viefhaus drew a one-out walk and stole second, Shaw gave the Wolverines the only runs they would need with a shot that carried over the leftfield wall. Shaw ranks second on the squad with four home runs this season.

In the circle against San Diego State, Taylor tossed seven scoreless innings and sent Aztec hitters down in order three times. She issued no walks and fanned nine, including four in the final stanza. In the seventh, one Wildcat reached on catcher's interference and another on a throwing error by the catcher after a strikeout, but Taylor struck out Christine Kulick to end the game with the potential tying runs on base.

The Wolverines managed just nine hits in the two games, with Shaw and sophomore rightfielder Angela Findlay(Lockport, Ill./Lockport East HS) collecting one hit apiece in each contest.

The Wolverines will conclude action at the Judi Garman Classic on Saturday (March 22) with a game against No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette at 1:30 p.m. PDT at Anderson Family Field.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423