Michigan
Massachusetts
Michigan Wins FAU Classic Despite Loss to Massachusetts
2/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Event: Kick-Off Classic
Scores: Massachusetts 1, #8 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (4-1), Massachusetts (4-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 13 -- vs. Brigham Young at Louisville Slugger Desert Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.), 9 a.m. PST
Boxscore
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan softball team suffered its first loss of the 2009 campaign, falling to Massachusetts on the third and final day of the Kick-Off Classic on Sunday (Feb. 8) at FAU Softball Stadium. The Wolverines still captured the tournament title, via the runs-allowed tiebreaker,with junior left-hander Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) winning MVP accolades.
The Wolverines sacrificed the early lead on a first-inning RBI single and, despite putting runners in scoring position in four innings, could not overcome the deficit. Threatening in the bottom of the sixth, the Wolverines put the go-ahead run on after early base hits from freshman designated player Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini HS) and sophomore first baseman Dorian Shaw(Burke, Va./Robinson SS), but UMass ace Brandice Balschmiter retired the subsequent five batters to close out the contest and earn the win.
Sophomore hurler Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) threw four strikeouts through 1.1 innings but allowed four hits, including a pair of doubles, and the deciding first-inning run to drop her record to 2-1 on the season. Entering the game with one out and two on base in the second inning, juniorNemitz needed little effort to remove U-M from the jam as junior Roya St. Clair(Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) and senior shortstop Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) successfully foiled the double-steal attempt, picking off the runners at second and home. Nemitz ended the contest with seven strikeouts and just one hit allowed through 5.2 innings of work. She retired, in order, the last 14 batters she faced.
The Minutewomen took an early advantage -- one they never relinquished -- after a pair of base hits early in the first inning. Carly Normandin led off the contest with a double to right centerfield and, two batters later, came home on a base hit up the middle from Whitney Mollica for the lone tally of the game.
The Wolverines will head to the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic next weekend (Fri-Sun., Feb. 13-15) in Las Vegas, Nev., opening the tournament against on Brigham Young (9 a.m. PST) and Louisville (1:30 p.m. PST) on Friday.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
