Michigan Upsets ASU to Win NFCA Leadoff Classic Gold Consolation

Sunday, March 5

Columbus, Ga.

9:00 AM

Michigan

10-6-1

Texas

12-13-1

Michigan

Texas

Michigan Upsets ASU to Win NFCA Leadoff Classic Gold Consolation

3/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Columbus, Ga.
Tournament: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Results: Gold Bracket Consolation Semifinals: #14 Michigan 7, Texas 0
  Gold Bracket Consolation Final: #14 Michigan 2, #4 Arizona State 1 (9 innings)
Record: Michigan 12-6
Next U-M Games: Friday-Sunday, March 17-19 -- at Lady Seminole Invitational (Tallahassee, Fla.)

COLUMBUS, GA. --- The University of Michigan softball team closed its spring break competition with a pair of Sunday (March 5) victories to win the Gold Bracket consolation championship at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. The No. 14 Wolverines (12-6) blasted Texas 7-0 in the semifinal, then outlasted No. 4 Arizona State 2-1 in nine innings in the consolation championship.

Playing in its second extra inning game of the tournament, Michigan played scoreless ball with Arizona State through seven innings before the Sun Devils pushed a run across in the top of the eighth for a 1-0 lead. The Wolverines answered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) on an infield error. Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS) drilled a two-out double scoring Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) in the bottom of the ninth for the Michigan win.

Young led the Wolverines in Sunday morning's consolation semifinal win vs. Texas. The freshman knocked-in three runs, two on a first inning single, then paced the U-M defense with an 11-strikeout, three-hit complete game performance, improving to 4-1 in the pitching circle. Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) converted her three singles into three runs. The Wolverines led 4-0 in the third inning, then added a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to complete the shutout.

Michigan takes an 11-day break, resuming its schedule with the Lady Seminole Invitational hosted by Florida State March 17-19 in Tallahassee.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

Head coach Carol Hutchins collected her 650th career victory with the Wolverines' 7-0 shutout of Texas in the Gold consolation semifinal game. In her 17th year as a collegiate head coach (one at Ferris State, 16 at Michigan), "Hutch" becomes one of 24 collegiate coaches at any NCAA division and the 19th person among Division I coaches to reach the 650-win milestone. Hutchins has a 651-282-2 record as a collegiate head coach.

Marissa Young was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team, her first collegiate tournament award. Over the six games, Young totaled SIX hits and SIX RBI from the plate, and threw an 11-strikeout, complete game shutout vs. Texas (March 5).

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423