Balanced Attack Paces Wolverines Past Illinois in Doubleheader

Saturday, April 18

Champaign, Ill.

5:00 PM CT

Michigan

31-9, 7-2

Illinois

24-13, 7-5

Michigan

Illinois

Balanced Attack Paces Wolverines Past Illinois in Doubleheader

4/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Champaign, Ill. (Eichelberger Field)
Score: #8 Michigan 8, Illinois 2; #8 Michigan 8, Illinois 3
Records: U-M (32-9, 8-2 Big Ten), Illinois (24-14, 7-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 25 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 2 p.m. CDT

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2 | Video Report

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a balanced attack, scoring runs in nine of 14 total innings to claim a decisive 8-2, 8-3 doubleheader sweep at Illinois on Saturday (April 18) at Eichelberger Field. The two decisions extended U-M's winning streak to 12 straight games.

Freshman designated player Amanda Chidester(Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini HS) and junior third baseman Maggie Viefhaus(Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) recorded multi-hit efforts in both contests, batting 5-for-8 and 4-for-5, respectively, to headline the Wolverines' offense. Freshman leftfielder Bree Evans(Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) posted four hits on the day, including a career-best three in the nightcap.

Junior Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) struck out 10 in the first slate -- her fourth double-digit strikeout effort in six appearances -- while allowing five hits, two walks and one earned run. Sophomore Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calf./Valencia HS) claimed victory in second game -- her third victory in as many starts -- recording seven strikeouts and allowing nine hits and three earned runs.

After a scoreless first inning in game one, the Wolverines produced runs in each of the remaining six frames, including two apiece in the second and sixth. Chidester and Viefhaus each tallied a pair of hits and combined for five of Michigan's eight RBI.

Viefhaus recorded both of her RBI in the second inning, earning Michigan the early advantage -- one it never relinquished -- on a two-run homer over the rightfield fence. Junior catcher Roya St. Clair(Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) kicked off the inning with a grounder just past Illini pitcher Monica Perry and up the middle before Viefhaus, two batters later, connected with the 2-1 pitch for her sixth long ball of the season. The ball found the camera stand beyond the fence, where U-M student manager Erin McLaughlin shielded the Wolverines' video camera from harm's way.

Chidester followed suit with an extra-base hit and RBI of her own in the third. With Evans aboard after a fielding error, Chidester sent a high fly down the rightfield line, dropping it just inside the line near the warning track to allow her classmate to round the bases and score from first.

The Wolverines padded their advantage to four runs with another in the fourth, using a hit, a walk, a hit batsman and an error to manufacture the tally. Nemitz worked the count full before lining a leadoff base hit through the rightside gap. Senior pinch runner Megan Gregory(Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) took her place on the basepath and was quickly moved into scoring position when Viefhaus walked on four pitches. A Shaw fielder's choice put runners on the corners, and senior shortstop Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) loaded them up when the first pitch of her at bat smacked her in the side. With only one out, freshman second baseman Stephanie Kirkpatrick(Plainfield, Ill./Central HS) took advantage with a high fly to leftfield, where it bounced out of the Illini outfielder's glove. It was ruled Gregory would have scored regardless of the error as Kirkpatrick netted the RBI and the run became earned.

Illinois cut into U-M's advantage with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as the Illini first spoiled Nemitz's perfect game with a leadoff walk before using a pair of base knocks to spoil the no-hit bid. The latter hit -- a two-out double from designated player Katrina Ross -- produced both Illinois tallies.

Nemitz helped her own cause in the following inning, driving a two-out solo shot over the fence in right centerfield for her four homer of the season. The Wolverine hurler got herself into a jam in the home half of the inning, giving up back-to-back base hits to put runners on the corners with one out but responded by getting herself out of it, fanning the final two outs on six pitches -- albeit with a full-count walk sandwiched between.

The Wolverines pulled away with three runs in the final two innings as Chidester knocked in two on a two-out single in the sixth and sophomore pinch hitter Marley Powers(Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS) drove an RBI single through the left-side gap in the seventh. The former came with bases loaded after a leadoff walk, fielder's choice and an Evans bloop single to shallow center.

Michigan rallied back from an early deficit in the second slate after Illinois took the first lead on a second-inning solo home run. The Wolverines pushed two runs across in the following frame, using a walk, two hits and an Illini error to take their first and final lead in the contest. With two outs and Gregory and junior centerfielder Molly Bausher(Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) in scoring position, Evans smacked a grounder to second base, where the Illinois infielder tripped while attempting to field the ball. The Wolverine was awarded an RBI single, and Michigan added another run on the play when the Illini second baseman erred on the throw to first.

After a quiet fourth inning, the Wolverines exploded for five runs in the fifth behind four hits, including three for extra bases, and a walk. With one out and one on, Evans kicked off the surge with an RBI triple over the head of the centerfielder. Chidester and Viefhaus added RBI doubles to leftfield, while St. Clair sent a high fly to the opposite field for the inning's other RBI.

Illinois homered again in the sixth -- again off the scoreboard in left centerfield -- but, again, the Wolverines responded, claiming the contest's final score in the seventh on a Viefhaus single -- her fourth base hit of the twinbill -- through the right-side gap.

The Wolverines will continue their Big Ten road trip next Saturday and Sunday (April 25-26), heading to Madison, Wis., for a two-game series at Wisconsin. Both games are slated for 2 p.m. CDT starts at the Robert and Irwin Goodman Softball Complex.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423