Wolverines Rally Past Central Michigan With Late-Inning Surge

Wednesday, April 8

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

27-9

Central Michigan

7-19

Michigan

Central Michigan

Wolverines Rally Past Central Michigan With Late-Inning Surge

4/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Margo Jonker Stadium)
Score: #8 Michigan 7, Central Michigan 2
Records: U-M (27-9), Central Michigan(7-19)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 11 -- vs. Minnesota (Wilpon Softball Complex), 3 p.m.

Boxscore

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Down by a run for the majority of the game, the No. 8-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a late surge, including a five-run seventh inning, to overtake intrastate-rival Central Michigan en route to a 7-2win on Wednesday afternoon (April 8) at the Chippewas' Margo Jonker Stadium.

Junior rightfielder Angela Findlay(Lockport, Ill./East HS) gave the Wolverines their first lead of the contest, 2-1,with one out in the top of the sixth, connecting on the 1-1 pitch and sailing it deep over the fence in left centerfield for her fourth home run of the season. Freshman Bree Evans(Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) preceded Findlay's bomb with a single down the leftfield line -- her first of two hits in the game.

Freshman second baseman Stephanie Kirkpatrick(Plainfield, Ill./Central HS) and sophomore Dorian Shaw(Burke, Va./Robinson SS) also posted multi-hit efforts to headline the Wolverines' offense. Kirkpatrick matched a career high with three hits, adding a seventh-inning RBI in her final turn at the plate.

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) earned her first decision in three starts from the circle, improving to 10-4 with a three-hit, one-walk complete-game effort. Taylor fanned seven Chippewa batters, including three in the final two frames.

The Chippewas took advantage of a U-M miscue to gain the initial lead in the first, using a fielding error and subsequent base hit -- CMU's only hit until the seventh inning -- to push an early run across. Leadoff hitter Molly Coldren reached base when Shaw could not cleanly field a high chopper to the rightside gap and, after advancing on a stolen base and sac hit, came home -- unearned -- when CMU rightfielder Katie Greenman knocked a two-out single to right.

After the Wolverines stole away the lead in the sixth, the floodgate opened in the following inning as U-M tacked on five runs to seal up the non-conference win. Michigan's bottom third recorded consecutive hits to kick start the surge, including back-to-back doubles from Shaw and Ewing to bring home the eventual game-winning tally. The base hits chased CMU ace Ali Petit from the circle, bringing Kim Campbell into the contest, but the changed proved ineffective as Kirkpatrick used a shallow poke to drive home another run. Evans followed suit with another RBI single to centerfield and, when CMU's relay throw to second went errant, Kirkpatrick came home unearned and Evans pulled safely into third. Findlay wrapped the Wolverines' scoring in the next at bat, scoring the rookie outfielder with a sacrifice fly.

Central Michigan used a pair of hits in the home half of the inning to manufacture a late run. CMU first baseman Jill Schulz led off with a high fly ball to right that smacked the fence just beyond the reach of Findlay, allowing her to pull in safe at second. The Chippewas added another base hit on an infield single to short. Senior shortstop Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) corralled the hard-hit ball and dove to make the tag at third but was not in time. The runner scored in the subsequent at bat when pinch hitter Amanda Patrick sent a fielder's choice back to the six spot. Taylor ended the rally attempt with her seventh strikeout of the slate, freezing Coldren on the 2-2 pitch.

The Wolverines will return home for a two-game weekend series against Minnesota, squaring off against the Golden Gophers at 3 p.m. on Saturday (April 11) and 1 p.m. on Sunday (April 12) at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home of Alumni Field.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423