Wolverines Open Speedline Invitational with Pair of Wins

Thursday, March 4

Tampa, Fla.

Noon

Michigan

8-5

Florida Atlantic

13-6

Florida Atlantic

Michigan

Wolverines Open Speedline Invitational with Pair of Wins

3/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Tampa, Fla.
Event: Speedline Invitational
Results: #14 Michigan 4, Florida Atlantic 1; #14 Michigan 4, Georgia 3
Records: U-M (9-5)
Next U-M Games: Friday, March 5 -- vs. Mississippi State (11 a.m.), Florida State (3 p.m.) at Speedline Invitational (Tampa, Fla.)

TAMPA, Fla. -- The 14th-ranked University of Michigan softball team opened Speedline Invitational play with two come-from-behind wins Thursday (March 4), extending its season-best win streak to four games. The Wolverines (9-5) beat Florida Atlantic University, 4-1, and the University of Georgia, 4-3, in the first day of tournament pool play.

In the first game, Florida Atlantic went ahead 1-0 on a second-inning home run. Michigan tied the game with a run in the third, then took the lead for good when Melissa Taylor's (Deerfield, Mich./Summerfield HS) two-out single in the fourth scored a pair of runs. The Wolverines added an insurance run in the sixth.

Taylor, Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS), Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) and Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Mater Dei HS) totaled two hits each. Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) picked up the win in relief (2-1), throwing five strikeouts while allowing two hits.

After trailing 2-0 midway through the second inning against Georgia, Michigan scored twice in the bottom of the second and two times in the third, then held off a fifth-inning Bulldogs rally. Davie's double in the third inning vs. Georgia scored Conrad for the game-winning run.

Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in the third. Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) collected the win in relief to move her record to 6-2.

Michigan continues pool play with games against Mississippi State (11 a.m.) and Florida State (3 p.m.) on Friday (March 5).

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• Catherine Davie extended her streak of doubles to four games with a two-bagger against both Florida Atlantic and Georgia. The senior has hit a double in six of her last seven games, pushing her team season-leading total to seven. She has 46 for her career, 12 shy of tying the Michigan all-time record 58 doubles held by Sara Griffin (1995-98).