Nemitz's One-Hit Shutout Drives Michigan Past Virginia Tech

Friday, February 27

Columbus, Ga.

1:30 PM

Michigan

13-4

Virginia Tech

5-10

Michigan

Virginia Tech

Nemitz's One-Hit Shutout Drives Michigan Past Virginia Tech

2/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Stadium and Complex)
Event: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Score: #6 Michigan 6, Virginia Tech 0
Records: U-M (13-4), Virginia Tech (5-10)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 28 -- vs. Louisiana Lafayette at the NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.), 1:30 p.m.

Boxscore

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team snapped out of its recent hitting slump, posting 10 hits -- from seven different batters -- en route to a 6-0 victory over Virginia Tech in its opening game of the 14th annual NFCA Leadoff Classic on Friday (Feb. 27) at the South Commons Stadium and Complex. A steady rain picked up just moments after the final out and ultimately washed out the Wolverines' second slate against Southern Illinois; the game will not be rescheduled.

Freshman utility player Amanda Chidester(Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini HS) and junior rightfielder Angela Findlay(Lockport, Ill./East HS) paced the Maize and Blue with 2-for-4 showings at the plate, while freshman second baseman Stephanie Kirkpatrick(Plainfield, Ill./Central HS) and sophomore first baseman Dorian Shaw(Burke, Va./Robinson SS) posted a pair of RBI apiece; Shaw's came on a two-run bomb in the seventh.

Junior pitcher Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) threw a one-hit, complete-game shutout for the Wolverines, striking out six to improve her season record to 8-2. The shutout effort was her second of the season.

Michigan established a quick advantage in the top of the first inning. With junior centerfielder Molly Bausher(Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) on second base after a four-pitch walk and subsequent stolen base, Chidester laced a hard grounder into leftfield to bring home the only run U-M needed and secure her seventh game-winning hit this the season.

The Wolverines added a run apiece in the second and sixth innings to pad their lead before doubling their run total with a three-run seventh. Senior shortstop Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) registered her first RBI of the season in the second frame, taking the first pitch she saw to the wall in left centerfield to score Findlay -- who reached via a leadoff single -- from second base.

Nemitz lost her no-hit bid in the home half of the fourth when Virginia Tech designated player Jenna Rhodes kicked off the inning with a hard grounder to shortstop. The Hokies did not remain on base for long as VTech shortstop Erin Ota, on the next pitch, sent a gentle popup bunt into the glove of junior third baseman Maggie Viefhaus(Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS), who turned and fired the ball to first to pick off Rhodes for the double play.

Junior catcher Roya St. Clair(Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) smacked a double -- her fifth of the season -- down the leftfield line to lead off the sixth before junior pinch runner Kristin Larsen(Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) replaced her on the base path. Kirkpatrick brought Larsen home from first base in the next at bat, finding the right-side gap to secure her first collegiate RBI.

Another U-M freshman, Chidester, laced a hard grounder through the opposite gap to lead off the seventh, and, after Chidester advanced on a passed ball, Shaw got a hold of the 1-0 pitch and rocketed a liner over the fence in left centerfield for her fourth homer of the season. The Wolverines used a walk, a passed ball and a Findlay base knock to put a runner in scoring position -- and induce a VT pitching change -- before Kirkpatrick dribbled a fielder's choice to first base to secure her second RBI of the afternoon.

With her team well in control in the bottom half of the frame, Nemitz retired the side on six pitches to close out the contest.

Michigan will continue play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 28) with games against No. 16 Louisiana Lafayette at 1:30 p.m. and No. 1 Alabama at 4 p.m. Each game will be held at the South Commons Stadium and Complex.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423