Wisconsin Scores Pair of 3-1 Wins to Sweep No. 4 U-M

Saturday, May 1

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

45-8-1, 17-2

Wisconsin

25-16, 9-7

Wisconsin

Michigan

5/1/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Results: Wisconsin 3, #4 Michigan 1 (9 innings); Wisconsin 3, #4 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (45-9-1, 17-3 Big Ten); Wisconsin (26-16, 10-7 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, May 2 -- vs. Wisconsin (Alumni Field), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Unranked University of Wisconsin began the day with no wins in its all-time softball series vs. the University of Michigan but ended Saturday (May 1) with a doubleheader sweep of No. 4-ranked Michigan, 3-1 (9 innings) and 3-1, at Alumni Field.

The two Badger wins denied Michigan (45-9-1, 17-3 Big Ten) a chance to clinch its second straight Big Ten Conference season title, and kept fifth-place Wisconsin (26-16, 10-7 Big Ten) in the running for a spot in the five-team Big Ten Tournament (May 14-15). The teams complete the weekend series with a 1 p.m. single game Sunday (May 2).

Home runs in both games were key to both teams. In the opener, Michigan designated player Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS) drilled a solo home run to leftfield in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game 1-1. Wisconsin scored twice in the top of the ninth on a pair of leftfield singles to take a 3-1 lead, then retired Michigan in order to win game one.

A sixth-inning three-run home run to left-center by Lindy Barth proved to be the Badgers' game-winning hit in the nightcap. Michigan scored its lone run in the first inning when Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) singled in Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Mater Dei HS). The Wolverines made the one-run lead stand up through the top of the sixth, stranding five Badgers over innings one through five.

Both Wisconsin pitchers went the distance in the games, with Jennifer Cummings (11-7) winning game one and Ashley Fauser (14-8) the game two winner. Michigan's Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) allowed 12 hits in the first game, dropping her record to 19-2. Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS), who threw the final two outs of the opener, allowed six hits and four walks in the nightcap loss (15-4).

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• Michigan's doubleheader loss to Wisconsin is its first Big Ten doubleheader loss since April 9, 1995, when it dropped a pair at Iowa. . . . The Badger sweep is also the Wolverines' first home doubleheader loss since a pair of extra-inning losses to Iowa on May 1, 1994.

• Michigan's "magic number" to clinch the Big Ten season championship fell to one game, thanks to a split in Minnesota's loss to Michigan State in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The Spartans were shutout 3-0 in game one but came back to beat Minnesota 3-2 in game two.

• Wisconsin's pitching held Michigan's top hitter, Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS), to two hits in eight plate appearances over the twinbill. . . . Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) finished the doubleheader with a pair of hits in both games, including two doubles in the nightcap. . . . Kelsey Kollen led the Wolverines in game two, going 3-for-4 at the plate and adding a stolen base.

• The high-scoring Wolverine offense was held to two runs, far below the team's 5.47 per game scoring average. Michigan finished the doubleheader with 17 runners left on base, including 11 in the second game.