U-M Remains Undefeated in Season-Opening Tourney

Friday, February 18

Poway, Calif.

3:30 PM PT

Michigan

2-0

Cal State-Northridge

3-4-1

Cal State-Northridge

Michigan

2/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amy Carlton

Site: Poway, Calif. (Sportsplex USA)
Event: Campbell/Cartier Classic
Results: #6 Michigan 2, Cal State-Northridge 1; #6 Michigan 6, #1 UCLA 4
Records: U-M (3-0), CSUN (3-4-1), UCLA (12-3)
Next U-M Games: Saturday, Feb. 19 -- vs. Pacific (10:30 a.m. PST), vs. #15 Long Beach State (8:30 p.m. PST) at Campbell/Cartier Classic (Poway, Calif.)

• UCLA Game Ruled a Tie by NCAA Committee (4/20/2000)

POWAY, Calif. -- The sixth-ranked University of Michigan softball team kept its season record unblemished with a pair of wins Friday (Feb. 18) in second-day action at the Campbell/Cartier Classic. The Wolverines posted a 2-1 win vs. Cal State-Northridge, then upended No. 1-ranked UCLA 6-4 to improve to 3-0.

The Wolverines scattered eight hits, including a pair of RBI doubles by co-captain Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS), to beat top-ranked UCLA. It is Michigan's first-ever win vs. a No. 1-ranked opponent. Senior pitcher Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) came off the bench for the second time on Friday to direct U-M to a win, her first decision of the season. Earlier in the day Gillies recorded a save against Cal State-Northridge.

Michigan wasted little time producing runs against the Bruins, taking its cue from leadoff hitter Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS), who opened the game with a single and stolen base and later scored on a Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS) sacrifice fly. U-M added two more first-inning runs for a 3-0 lead. UCLA answered with two runs in its half of the first, tied the game in the third and went ahead 4-3 in the fourth. Melissa Taylor (Deerfield, Mich./Summerfield HS) scored on a Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) RBI in the fifth to tie the score 4-4.

Forced into the tie-breaker in the seventh due to a time limit, Michigan took the lead on a Gentile sacrifice fly that scored Kollen from third. Kosanke knocked in her second run of the game, scoring Taylor on a double. The Wolverines shut down UCLA in the bottom of the inning to preserve the victory.

Michigan scored all of its runs against Northridge in the bottom of the fourth behind RBI singles from Kosanke and Meghan Doe (San Diego, Calif./Sabino HS, Ariz.). Kosanke scored pinch runner Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) to put U-M on the scoreboard, then crossed the plate on Doe's single.

Freshman Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) collected her first U-M win (1-0), tossing a two-hitter in 5 1/3 innings of work against Northridge. After giving up a one-out home run to Northridge rightfielder Chastity Johnson in the sixth, Young was relieved by senior Gillies, who earned a save as she stopped a Matador rally and preserved the Wolverine victory. Sarah Farnworth (1-4) took the loss for Northridge.

Michigan continues play in the Campbell/Cartier Classic with two Saturday (Feb. 19) games. U-M plays Pacific at 10:30 a.m. PST and No. 15 Long Beach State at 8:30 PST.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

• The save by senior pitcher Jamie Gillies was the third of her career. Gillies had a pair of saves in the 1999 season.

• Pam Kosanke recorded her 200th Michigan start with the Cal State-Northridge game. She is the fifth Wolverine player to reach the 200-start milestone. Former U-M All-American Traci Conrad holds the Michigan record with 263 starting assignments (1996-99).

• The Wolverines picked up their first series win against Northridge. The two teams recorded a six-inning 3-3 tie in their first meeting, at the 1997 Campbell/Cartier Classic . . . Michigan won its second straight game vs. UCLA to narrow the Bruins' series lead to 6-3.