Davie's Bat, Barda's Arm Help Wolverines Past Baylor

Thursday, March 18

Sacramento, Calif.

5:00 PM PT

Michigan

16-5

Baylor

13-11

Baylor

Michigan

3/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Sacramento, Calif.
Event: Capital Classic
Results: #10 Michigan 1, Baylor 0
Records: U-M (16-5), Baylor (13-11)
Next U-M Games: Friday, March 19 -- vs. Southern Illinois (9 a.m. PST), vs. Portland State (3 p.m. PST) at Capital Classic (Sacramento, Calif.)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Senior Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) provided all the offense the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan softball team needed as the Wolverines slid past Baylor University 1-0 in the opening game at the Capital Classic Thursday night (March 18).

Davie drilled a solo home run -- her third home run of the season -- in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Wolverines' lone score. Michigan improved to 16-5 and extended its March win streak to 11 games. Baylor dropped to 13-11.

The Michigan offense scattered five hits, with freshman designated player Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, including her first collegiate triple.

Defensively, sophomore pitcher Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale HS) allowed four hits and tied a career best with six strikeouts in her second shutout of the season. Barda, who won her fourth straight start, improved her season record to 6-1, while Baylor's Stacey Allison, who struck out three Wolverines, goes to 4-4.

Michigan concludes Capital Classic pool play with two games Friday against Southern Illinois and Portland State. Championship playoffs are scheduled to begin Friday evening.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• Catherine Davie moved into a tie with former Wolverine Sara Griffin (1995-98) for the No. 2 spot on the Wolverines' career home run list. Davie and Griffin each have 14 home runs. The U-M record is 19 home runs by Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS). Davie also inched closer to recording her 200th career hit with her solo home run. Davie has 198 hits as a Wolverine (tied for ninth among all-time U-M hitters), and will become just the ninth U-M player to reach the 200-hit milestone.

• Melissa Taylor (Deerfield, Mich./Summerfield HS), who was 1-for-2 at the plate vs. the Bears, has hit safely in 11 of her last 12 games. . . . Senior first baseman Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) was held hitless for just the fifth time this season . . . . With the win, Michigan evened its all-time softball record vs. Baylor at 2-2.