Badgers' Seventh-Inning Rally Halts U-M Win Streak

Friday, April 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

25-7-1, 4-1

Wisconsin

24-16, 2-3

Wisconsin

Michigan

4/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Results: Wisconsin 2, #11 Michigan 0; 2nd game rained out
Records: U-M (26-7, 4-1 Big Ten), UW (24-16, 2-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, April 7 -- vs. Minnesota (Alumni Field), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Six innings of no-run softball ended when the rain began as the University of Wisconsin scored twice in the top of the seventh to upset No. 11-ranked University of Michigan 2-0 on Friday (April 7) at Alumni Field. The loss spoiled the Wolverines' 2000 home opener and ended their 16-game win streak.

The second game of the afternoon's scheduled Big Ten Conference doubleheader was cancelled by the rain, which increased in intensity in the break between games. The Wolverines (26-7, 4-1 Big Ten) continue their homestand on Saturday (April 8) with a 2 p.m. single game vs. Minnesota. The Golden Gophers (22-17, 0-5 Big Ten) lost a 12-11 run-fest at Michigan State Friday afternoon.

Wisconsin (24-16, 2-3 Big Ten) broke the 0-0 tie when Amanda Berg slid a two-out, bases-loaded single down the leftfield line. Michigan led off the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back walks, moving leadoff batter Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) to third on a pair of wild pitches by Andrea Kirchberg. With runners on the corners, Kirchberg (21-9) forced Melissa Gentile (O'Fallon, Mo./Wentzville HS) to fly out and struck out the final two U-M batters to preserve the win.

Michigan had a chance to score in the fourth when a two-out double steal by Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) and Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) placed runners at third and second. Kirchberg worked out of that jam, forcing Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) into an infield flyout. The Wolverines thwarted a Badger scoring attempt in the sixth, stranding runners at first and third.

Taylor and Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) recorded the only Michigan hits. Junior pitcher Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) tied a career best with 10 strikeouts, allowing four hits and four walks to go to 9-4 for the season.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

Pam Kosanke (.416) and Melissa Taylor (.343) are one-two on the Michigan batting average list.

Wisconsin seems to have Michigan's number, beating the Wolverines three times in the last four games between the teams. U-M maintains a 10-3 advantage in the all-time series vs. the Badgers ... The loss to the Badgers also ended Michigan's three-game win streak in season home openers ... Michigan has lost its last five home games, a streak dating to a pair of losses in the 1999 Big Ten Tournament.

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423