Nemitz, Freshman Trio Propel Wolverines to Shutout of Arizona

Sunday, March 15

Fullerton, Calif.

1:00 PM PT

Michigan

20-7

Arizona

26-7

Michigan

Arizona

Nemitz, Freshman Trio Propel Wolverines to Shutout of Arizona

3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Fullerton, Calif. (Anderson Family Field)
Event: Judi Garman Classic
Score: #10 Michigan 4, #12 Arizona 0
Records: U-M (20-7), Arizona (26-7)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 21 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 1 p.m. CDT

Boxscore

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan softball team closed out the Judi Garman Classic in decisive fashion, earning a 4-0 victory over No. 12 Arizona on Sunday afternoon (March 15) at Anderson Family Field. U-M posted its third double-digit hit effort in five games while holding the Wildcats to just a pair of hits, and scored early and late in the contest to roll to its fourth win over a ranked opponent this weekend.

The Wolverine freshman trio headlined Michigans offensive production, combining for eight hits and three RBI. Freshman catcher Amanda Chidester(Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini HS) went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate, registering a career best and U-M season high, and added an RBI in her final at bat. Freshman leftfielder Bree Evans(Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) and freshman second baseman Stephanie Kirkpatrick(Plainfield, Ill./Central HS) each recorded a pair of hits with Evans scoring a pair of runs and Kirkpatrick matching a career best with two RBI.

Junior pitcher Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) contributed a stellar effort from the pitching circle, fanning 11 Wildcat batters while allowing just a pair of walks and two hits -- singles in the first and seventh frames. The performance netted Nemitz her fourth complete-game shutout of the season and improved her record to 12-3.

Michigan used a balanced attack to build its advantage, scoring single runs in the second, third, sixth and seventh frames to pull away from the perennial power. The Wolverines took advantage of a Wildcat error in the second to secure the lead for good. Nemitz singled through the right-side gap before advancing a base when the Arizona rightfielder flubbed the pickup. Junior pinch runner Kristin Larsen(Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) took over on second base and came home two batters later when Kirkpatrick singled.

The Wolverines scored off a double steal in the third to extend their advantage. Evans led off the inning with a base hit through the left-side gap, and, after the U-M leftfielder advanced to third base on a sac bunt and wild pitch, Chidester smacked a single to third to put runners on the corners. The latter rookie took off for second in the next at bat and was caught stealing, but Evans beat the throw back to home plate to score her first of two runs in the contest.

Nemitz stifled the Arizona hitters through the middle innings, facing the minimum in the third, fourth and sixth innings, striking out six and inducing a fourth-frame double play.

Michigan capped the game with a run apiece in the final two frames. Junior third baseman Maggie Viefhaus(Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) led off the former with a double down the rightfield line -- her eighth two-bagger of the season -- and came home three batters later when Kirkpatrick launched an RBI single into leftfield. The other two U-M newcomers combined for Michigans run in the seventh. Evans opened the frame with another single through the left-side gap and, after stealing second to put herself in scoring position, raced home on Chidesters single down the leftfield line.

Nemitz gave up her second base hit with two outs in the home half of the seventh before issuing a full-count strikeout to end the game.

The Wolverines will kick off the Big Ten Conference portion of their 2008-09 schedule next Saturday and Sunday (March 21-22), heading to Evanston, Ill., for a two-game series against Northwestern. Both games are slated for 1 p.m. CDT starts at the Wildcats Sharon Drysdale Field and will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423