Wolverines Work Overtime in Sweep of Boilers

Wednesday, April 7

West Lafayette, Ind.

2:00 PM CT

Michigan

31-5-1, 4-0

Purdue

20-15, 1-3

Michigan

Purdue

4/7/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amy Carlton

Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Varsity Softball Complex)
Results: #6 Michigan 2, Purdue 0; #6 Michigan 3, Purdue 2 (11 innings)
Records: U-M (32-5-1, 5-0 Big Ten), Purdue (20-16, 1-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Games: Saturday, April 10 -- vs. #22 Minnesota (Alumni Field), 1 p.m. DH

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Add two more wins to the University of Michigan softball unbeaten streak. The No. 6-ranked Wolverines won both ends of Wednesday's (April 7) road doubleheader at Purdue University, taking the opener 2-0 and outlasting the Boilermakers 3-2 in the 11-inning nightcap.

The Boilermakers (20-16, 1-4 Big Ten) tried their best to put an end to U-M's unbeaten streak, shutting out Michigan (32-5-1, 5-0 Big Ten) for two six-inning stretches in the twinbill. The teams played 13 complete innings of scoreless softball over the two games, taking a 0-0 score into the seventh inning of the opener and into the third of the nightcap. The sweep pushed Michigan's unbeaten streak to 28 games (27-0-1) dating to March 2.

With the 2-0 opening-game win, Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins recorded her 250th Big Ten regular-season victory (251-103, 15 years), making her the second-winningest active coach in the conference behind Iowa's Gayle Blevins. The sweep also moved Hutchins to within three wins of 600 at Michigan.

Michigan put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, then sat Purdue down one-two-three in the bottom half of the inning to come away with the game-one victory. Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) drove a two-out single to center field, scoring pinch runner Mary Conner (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) and Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) for the go-ahead runs.

Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) went the distance for U-M, allowing three hits in her fifth shutout win of the season. Nicole Crouse (9-7) was tagged with the loss after giving up four hits -- all singles -- and holding Michigan's leading hitter, Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS), hitless in three at-bats.

Four hits and an intentional walk of Davie to lead off the 11th inning produced the Wolverines' game-winning score in the nightcap. With the bases loaded and no outs, freshman Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) dropped a single into left field to score leadoff hitter Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) for the 3-2 win.

Michigan scattered 13 hits -- all singles -- behind Conrad's four hits and three hits by Melissa Taylor (Deerfield, Mich./Summerfield HS). Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) picked up her ninth win of the year (9-2) in relief of starter Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS). Gillies struck out four and allowed six hits. Crouse (9-8) took the loss in relief.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• The 11-inning doubleheader nightcap is the longest game played in the 14-game series between Michigan and Purdue. The Wolverines, now 2-0 in extra innings vs. the Boilermakers, went 10 innings for a 4-3 win in the second game of the March 26, 1995, doubleheader.

• Michigan is 5-1-1 in extra inning games this season. . . . Michigan extended its lead in the Purdue series to 13-1. . . . The Wolverines have won 16 straight regular-season conference games.