Notes & Quotes: #7 Michigan 7, Baylor 1
5/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
Michigan advances to the Women's College World Series for the ninth time in program history and the first time since 2005 when the Wolverines captured the NCAA crown. U-M's nine WCWS appearances rank fifth among all Division I programs.
With the weekend sweep, U-M improved to 5-5 in the all-time series against Baylor. Prior to today's victory, the Bears were one of only 15 Division I teams to boast a winning record against Michigan.
The sweep also marks the first for the Wolverines in NCAA Super Regional competition. Appearing in each super regional since its debut in 2005, U-M had gone to the rubber match in each previous season.
The Wolverines wrapped up the home portion of their 2009 schedule with a perfect 19-0 record at Alumni Field. It marks the first time in program history that U-M completed an undefeated home record.
Michigan has won 26 of its last 27 games.
Over their last 22 games, the Wolverines have rallied from initial deficits on 10 occasions. Removing those initial opposing runs, Michigan outscored their competition by a combined 50-7 margin.
Michigan posted its 16th double-digit hit total of the season with 11 hits tonight. The Wolverines are perfect in 2009 when registering 10 or more hits.
Three U-M batters hit over .500 during NCAA Super Regional play this weekend --sophomore first baseman Dorian Shaw hit 4-for-6 (.667) with three homers, six RBI and two walks, while freshman outfielder Bree Evans went 5-for-8 (.625) andsenior shortstop Teddi Ewing batted 3-for-6 (.500).
Evans collected a single and a double duringtoday's contest, giving her a hit in all five of her NCAA postseason appearances. Evans is a combined 11-for-21 (.524) in NCAA Tournament play. The postseason string is part of a personal best seven-game streak, dating back the regular-season home finale vs. Michigan State (May 8).
With five doubles in today's contest, including three in the third inning, the Wolverines posted its third effort of five or more two-baggers this season. U-M, who registered a season-high seven against Tennessee Tech (March 8), boasts 91 doubles on the year -- its highest season total since 2005.
Junior rightfielder Angela Findlay drove in three runs on two hits toearn her eighth multi-RBI game of the season. The three RBI matched a season high for Findlay; shealso brought home three runs at Central Michigan (April 8) and vs. Indiana (April 29).
Sophomore righthander Jordan Taylor closed the day with 13 strikeouts, including six consecutive spanning the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, to mark her sixth straight start with double-digit punch outs, dating back to the second of two games vs. Indiana (April 29). Since the IU doubleheader, Taylor has posted a 5-1 mark with three saves, a 0.93 ERA, 18 hits allowed and 86 strikeouts over a 45.1-inning stretch.
Taylor picked up her 50th career win with her stellar performance from the circle. The Wolverine sophomore improved to 19-5 on the season and is one win shy of becoming the third pitcher in U-M program history to begin her career with back-to-back 20-win seasons. Earlier this season, junior LHP Nikki Nemitz became the first to open with three straight 2o-win efforts.
With a double in the third inning, Nemitz extended her hitting streak to a career-best six games. Over the span, Nemitz has hit at a .500 clip (9-for-18). Nemitz has two previous four-game strings.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On winning the Super Regional... "I am so happy for my kids. They have worked so hard this year. We had to go down to Baylor a couple years ago, and that place is a tough place to play. Glen Moore runs such a classy program, and he is just a classy guy. They had a great year. It was clearly our turn. Everything was going our way, and we made them go our way. Our kids came out here and were determined to finish this off. I am really proud for them, and I am excited for them. I told them I don't want you to be happy just going to Oklahoma City, I want you to go there and do what we have been doing. It will be a lot of fun and very exciting. More than anything I am excited for the group. My coaching staff was just outstanding all year. They are a big part of what we are doing."
On how softball has changed since her first Women's College World Series trip... "Obviously the visibility of it, the exposure, the television coverage, the stadium, the game itself and the parity around college softball. You have to play well. It is who is playing well, not the name on your chest that gets you there. You still see a lot of the powers that be that make it, but there is not a coach in the country that won't tell you that it is getting harder every year. We have been so close for three years and were unable to get there. In 2006, we had a lot of the same players who won the title, and they couldn't get back. It is not easy; championships are not easy, so I never take them for granted."
On the continued success of the Wolverine program... "I think it is why they come to Michigan. When they come here at some point they realize that they are the ones that get it done, and what this group has accomplished here -- they did that. Michigan didn't do it, and I didn't do it. The kids do it; the kids drive the bus. Once they recognize they are empowered then look out. I think that is what they realize when they come here. No one is bigger than the program. There are a lot of hard lessons along the way, but when you play for Michigan, your job is to make Michigan great."
On senior shortstop Teddi Ewing... "What a great way to end your last game at Alumni Field. She was not feeling any heat. Teddi is best when she is having fun and is loose. She has been the epitome of a team player in her career. She exemplifies everything we want here at Michigan because she has not always had success, but she doesn't carry that with her. She gives to her teammates, and she commands their attention. I am really proud of her and happy she gets to go to Oklahoma City. I think she deserves to go."
On the where the team is heading into the College World Series... "I like their confidence. I like their perseverance. I like the fact that when we fall behind we find away to get back in it, and they don't get down. I think going into this time of year, the most important aspect of team is their confidence. They believe they can win, they believe in each other, and they are all buying in. I think that is one of the reasons we have had some of the outcomes we have had. They don't get ahead of themselves and don't start worrying about what might work. They are a very confident group right now, and they show it. A confident team is worth twice as much as an unconfident team, and that is what I am most pleased with."
On the Wolverines homefield advantage... "I believe that Alumni Field is one of the best college softball venues in the country. It is not just because it is a beautiful stadium, but that stadium is packed with people who love Michigan. We have such great fans. Let's just have the series here."
On U-M's first WCWS opponent, Alabama... "We know a little bit about them. We have been watching TV. We will get a chance to take a look at them closely, but I don't concern myself a whole lot with who we are playing. Our focus is on us and what we can do. We will try to attack their pitching and learn about their hitting. But our strength is us and we focus on Michigan."
U-M Senior Shortstop Teddi Ewing
On qualifying for the College World Series... "It means a lot for the program. We have been so close as a program these past three years, and this year we didn't want that to happen. It wasn't our focus. We just went out there and got into playing one-pitch softball and believing in each other and the program. It means a lot to get back to Oklahoma City, have a chance to go for the national championship again and to play in Hall of Fame Stadium."
U-M Sophomore Pitcher Jordan Taylor
On the run support she received... "Our team has been really good at that all year long. They provide all the runs we need. Sometimes we need to shut the other team down, but it is always good to know our team can support the pitching staff."
U-M Junior Right Fielder Angela Findlay
On winning the Super Regional... "I think it is very exciting. Like coach said, we have worked very hard for this all year, and it is what you work for. But we are not going to be happy just going there. The past three years we have been to the last game [of the NCAA Super Regional], and now we have finally got there so I think we can use that as momentum going into it."
U-M Sophomore First Baseman Dorian Shaw
On the team's recent play... "Everybody is playing for Michigan and pulling for Michigan. No matter how each individual is doing, everyone is working towards that one goal. It is one thing to get there -- that is an amazing accomplishment -- but at the same time we are a hungry team and we have been all year. We have gone through a lot this year -- a lot of adversity, a lot of different things -- and just knowing that we have a chance to step on that field and prove ourselves one more time is what means the most to us. We are definitely not going to take it for granted, because we know how hard it was to get here."
