Michigan Wins Second Straight, Upends No. 20 Florida

Sunday, February 21

Gainesville, Fla.

1:00 PM

Michigan

2-3

Florida

7-4

Michigan

Florida

2/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Gainesville, Fla. (Florida Stadium)
Event: Louisville Slugger Classic
U-M Finish: 2nd of 4 teams (2-3)
Result: #5 Michigan 4, #20 Florida 2
Records: U-M (2-3); UF (7-4)
Next U-M Games: Feb. 26-28 -- at NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The fifth-ranked University of Michigan softball team exploded for three runs in the third inning and capitalized on five Florida errors to score a 4-2 win over the host Gators in the final game of the Louisville Slugger Classic Sunday (Feb. 21).

The win gave the Wolverines (2-3) a second-place finish in the four-team tournament. Fourth-ranked Washington claimed the Louisville Slugger Classic championship, while No. 20 Florida finished third and Virginia Tech fourth.

Florida (7-4) took an 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, only to have Michigan's Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) score in the top of the second on an outfield error to tie the game. In the third, Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS), Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) and Kristen Hunter (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights HS) each scored on successive doubles by Davie and Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) and a single by Mika.

Michigan thwarted a fifth-inning Florida comeback, throwing out back-to-back runners at home and forcing a flyout to center field with the bases loaded. The Gators left one runner on in the sixth and went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to give the Wolverines their second straight win in the tournament.

Davie led Michigan's eight-hit offense going 3-for-3 with a double and RBI. Mika and Conrad each collected two hits. Freshman pitcher Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) earned the win for Michigan, her second straight in two appearances (2-1), striking out four while allowing five hits. Beth Dieter (3-3) took the loss for Florida.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• Catherine Davie led Michigan over the five-game Louisville Slugger Classic. The senior hit .400 (6-of-15) with a double and triple. Davie and freshman Kelsey Kollen (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) each totaled six hits over the tournament.

• The Wolverines kept their record vs. Florida perfect with today's victory, winning their third game is as many meetings with the Gators.