Wolverine Rally Falls Short in Loss to Houston

Saturday, February 28

Columbus, Ga.

8:30 PM

Michigan

13-5

Houston

8-8

Michigan

Houston

2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Stadium and Complex)
Event: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Score: Houston 3, #6 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (13-5),Houston (8-8)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 1 -- vs. Hofstra at the NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.), 12:30 p.m.

Boxscore

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team rallied with a two-run seventh inning but fell a run short against Houston, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Cougars in day-two action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday evening (Feb. 28) at the South Commons Stadium and Complex.

The Wolverines matched a season-low three hits -- a figure they have tallied three times in the last seven games -- but nearly pulled off the comeback in the top of the seventh, manufacturing two runs off a hit and three walks. With junior third baseman Maggie Viefhaus' (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) leadoff walk, junior catcher Roya St. Clair(Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) drove the first pitch she saw up the middle, curving it into shallow right centerfield, and advanced on the throw to put two U-M baserunners in scoring position. Houston pitcher Baillie Lott walked back-to-back Wolverine hitters, including a full-count RBI walk to sophomore pinch hitter Marley Powers(Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS), to put U-M on the scoreboard.

Freshman leftfielder Bree Evans(Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) sent a bases-loaded groundout to shortstop to pull within one run and advance the winning run to second base, but junior pitcher Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) could not capitalize, working the count full before striking out the end the game.

Nemitz also accepted the loss in relief from the pitching circle, striking out five while allowing two hits, three walks and a pair of runs -- both unearned -- through three innings. The loss drops her record to 8-3 on the season.

Two of Nemitz's walks came in the bottom half of the fifth, and Houston took advantage to score twice and gain its insurmountable three-run advantage. After a leadoff walk, Cougar leftfielder Katy Beth Sherman reached when the Wolverines failed to cover first base after her shallow bunt. Nemitz got a quick pair of outs before walking catcher Elaina Nordstrom to load the bases. In the next at bat, the Cougars' Laurie Wagner connected with the 3-2 pitch and flew a high popup into shallow leftfield just inside the line. Freshman second baseman Stephanie Kirkpatrick(Plainfield, Ill./Central HS) raced over to reach the ball but could not keep it inside her glove, allowing two Houston baserunners to cross home plate.

Both teams registered their first hit in the third inning, but the Cougars made it count with a solo home run off the first pitch of the home half. First baseman Melissa Gregson sent a towering shot over the fence in left centerfield. Sophomore starting pitcher Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) closed out the inning, wrapping with three strikeouts and two hits allowed, before being replaced by Nemitz in the subsequent frame.

Michigan (13-5) will close out play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow (Sunday, March 1) with a 1:20 p.m. slate against Hofstra at the South Commons Stadium and Complex in Columbus, Ga.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423