Final-Inning Thriller Hands U-M Regional Win Over Notre Dame

Saturday, May 16

Ann Arbor, Mich.

12:30 PM

Michigan

43-10

Notre Dame

42-16

Notre Dame

Michigan

Maggie Viefhaus (15) is greeted at home plate after her game-tying homer

Final-Inning Thriller Hands U-M Regional Win Over Notre Dame

5/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Notes and Quotes Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Softball Complex)
Event: NCAA Regional
Score: #7 Michigan 2, #25 Notre Dame 1
Records: U-M (43-10), Notre Dame (42-16)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 17 -- vs. #25 Notre Dame (Wilpon Softball Complex), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory over 25th-ranked Notre Dame in NCAA Regional action on Saturday (May 16) in front of 1,422 fans at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home of Alumni Field.

The Wolverines (43-10) will play a rematch against the Fighting Irish in Sunday's (May 17) NCAA Regional championship game, slated for a 1 p.m. start at the Wilpon Complex. Notre Dame, which carries a 2-1 regional record after rallying in the loser's bracket with a 5-3 win over Miami (Ohio) Saturday afternoon, will need to defeat Michigan twice to win the title.

Freshman outfielder Bree Evans (Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) registered the game-winning hit with two outs and two on in the final frame, sending a looper into shallow left. The Irish leftfielder and shortstop converged on the ball, but neither could reach it in time as it dropped in for Evans' third base hit of the regional event and allowed junior pinch runner Kristin Larsen (Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) to race home from second base.

Junior third baseman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) led off the inning with the Wolverines' fourth home run of the weekend, knotting the score with one swing. After taking a first-pitch called strike and fouling off a pair, the U-M junior drove the 1-2 pitch deep down the rightfield line for her ninth homer of the season.

The Wolverines continued to apply the pressure, putting two runners on with no outs. Junior designated player Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) reached on a liner to left-center before sophomore first baseman Dorian Shaw (Burke, Va./Robinson SS) was plunked by an inside pitch to earn first base. Notre Dame put two away on a popup and a strikeout, setting the stage for Evans' clutch single.

Sophomore RHP Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) pitched a sterling complete-game performance from the circle, fanning 11 Irish batters -- her fifth straight double-digit strikeout effort -- while allowing three hits and no walks. The win improved Taylor's record to 18-5 on the season.

The U-M hurler dominated the early innings, requiring just five pitches to wrap up the first before striking out the side in the second.

While the Wolverines struggled at the plate, Notre Dame claimed the initial advantage in the fourth inning on a solo home run from third baseman Heather Johnson, who connected with the second pitch and drove it high over the centerfield fence. Taylor responded to the long ball by fanning back-to-back batters to close out the frame. She added two more strikeouts in the fifth and, after giving up a leadoff single, struck out the side in the seventh to keep the potent Irish lineup at bay.