Kosanke, Booming Bats Help U-M Sweep Indiana State

Thursday, April 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

35-11-1

Indiana State

19-30

Indiana State

Michigan

4/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Results: #13 Michigan 7-6, Indiana State 0-2
Records: U-M (36-11-1); ISU (19-31)
Next U-M Game: Tuesday, May 2 -- DH vs. Eastern Michigan (Alumni Field), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) started her graduation weekend celebration with home runs in each end of the Wolverines' 7-0 and 6-2 doubleheader sweep of Indiana State University on Thursday afternoon (April 27). No. 13-ranked Michigan improves to 36-11-1.

Kosanke finished the day 4-for-8 with six RBI -- including a career-high five in the first game -- and produced the only extra-base hits of the day. Sophomore Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 over the twinbill. Volpe was held to a single while drawing three walks in the opener. Kosanke and Volpe keyed a Michigan offense that broke out of a three-game losing streak with a combined 22 hits against the Sycamores (19-31).

Michigan used Kosanke's three-run, second-inning home run to left field to open the game one shutout. The Wolverines added another three runs in the fifth, one on Rebecca Tune's (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) centerfield single and two more via a Kosanke single up the middle. Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) singled down the leftfield line in the sixth inning to score Volpe from second base.

Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) and reliever Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) combined on a one-hitter, with Barda (14-5) earning the win. Starter Keri Przygocki (9-6) took the loss for Indiana State, giving up nine hits and four walks.

In the nightcap, Indiana State pitcher Cathy Yamishiro (2-10) held Michigan to one hit through the first three innings before a three-hit fourth inning resulted in two Wolverine runs, both on Kollen's one-out leftfield single. Kosanke smacked her second home run of the day in the fifth to give U-M a 3-0 lead. Mary Conner (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) knocked in two runs and Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) another in Michigan's three-run sixth inning. The Sycamores avoided the shutout when catcher Kate Gilner drove a two-run single to leftfield in the seventh.

Michigan starter Gillies (7-3) allowed one hit over four innings, while Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) struck out six in a relief role.

Michigan is off until next Tuesday's (May 2, 2 p.m.) home doubleheader vs. Eastern Michigan.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

Pam Kosanke moved into a tie with Jessica Lang (1994-97) for fifth place on the U-M career home run list with seven.

The first game of today's doubleheader vs. Indiana State was the 1,200th game played in Michigan softball history. U-M is 813-382-3 over its 23-year varsity softball seasons. . . . Michigan remains unbeaten vs. Indiana State, stretching its all-time series lead to 3-0 with the wins.

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423