Wolverines Split Pair at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Friday, February 26

Columbus, Ga.

2:30 PM

Michigan

3-3

Arizona State

12-2

Arizona State

Michigan

2/26/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Field)
Event: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Results: #5 Michigan 4, #18 Arizona State 2 (8 innings); Southwestern Louisiana 5, #5 Michigan 4
Records: U-M (3-4); ASU (12-2); USL (7-0)
Next U-M Games: Saturday, Feb. 27 -- vs. Hofstra at NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.), 12:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The University of Michigan softball team opened defense of its NFCA Leadoff Classic title with a split in day one action Friday (Feb. 26). The No. 5-ranked Wolverines came back to upend No. 18 Arizona State, 4-2, in an eight-inning battle in game one before falling short to Southwestern Louisiana, 5-4, in game two.

Michigan (3-4) finishes pool play vs. Hofstra Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The first two rounds of championship bracket playoffs are scheduled for 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday.

Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) smacked a two-run right field home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Michigan a come-from-behind win vs. Arizona State (12-2). The Wolverines fought back from an early 1-0 deficit, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) run on an ASU error. Arizona State took a short-lived 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth. Michigan tied the game when Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) scored on a Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) flyout to right field.

Wolverine freshman pitcher Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) won her third straight game (3-1), allowing a season-low three hits over eight innings. Kirsten Voak (4-2) took the loss for the Sun Devils.

Southwestern Louisiana (7-0) broke open a 2-2 game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth and forcing Michigan to play catch-up ball in the day's second game. The Wolverines were able to push across single runs in the fifth and sixth.

Conrad and Davie each finished 2-for-4 at the plate, leading the season-high 10-hit Wolverine offense. Starter Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) took the loss (0-2), giving up seven hits and striking-out three over three and one-third innings. Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) threw two and two-third innings in relief. Kim Dunlap (4-0) went the distance for the Lady Cajuns, finishing with four strikeouts and no walks.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• Catherine Davie's eighth-inning home run vs. Arizona State is the 13th in her collegiate career. She ranks third on the Michigan all-time home run list behind Melissa Gentile (19, 1997-present) and Sara Griffin (14, 1995-98). The home run is the first for a Wolverine this season. . . . With hits in both Friday games, Davie extended her hitting streak to four games.

• Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) has a team-best five-game hit streak intact after a 2-for-6 opening day at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. . . . Freshman Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) has hit safely in her last four games.

• The Wolverines evened their all-time series record vs. Arizona State at 5-5 with the 4-2 victory, but remained winless vs. Southwestern Louisiana (0-4). . . . Arizona State was unable to capitalize on the Michigan insider knowledge of its first-year assistant coach, three-time U-M All-American Sara Griffin (1995-98). . . . Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins moved closer to the 600 career wins mark with the Arizona State victory. Hutchins has 591 career wins, including 568 with the Wolverines. . . . Arizona State is the second straight nationally-ranked team beaten by the Wolverines. U-M defeated No. 20 Florida 4-2 on Feb. 21.