Wolverines Run-Ruled by DePaul in NCAA Opener

Friday, May 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:00 AM

Michigan

43-15-1

DePaul

37-20

DePaul

Michigan

5/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Fifth-seeded DePaul University advanced to the winner's bracket of the NCAA Region 8 Softball Championship with a stunning 8-0 six-inning run-rule upset of second seed University of Michigan Friday morning (May 19) to complete the opening round of regional games.

DePaul advances to play the University of Notre Dame (37-20) in the scheduled 5 p.m. game Friday, while Michigan (43-15-1) faces top-seeded Stanford University in the 1:30 p.m. Friday elimination game.

Both teams put runners in scoring position early in the game. The Wolverines left a runner at first base in both the first and second innings. DePaul advanced Lindsay Chouinard to third base on an infield groundout and sacrifice in the second inning before stranding her on an unassisted play by Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) at first base.

The Blue Demons again put runners in scoring position with two outs in the third inning, this time pushing the first two runs across the plate. Tatum Allen drew a one-out walk then moved to second on an infield single by Liz Bouck. Allen and Bouck moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Jenny Davis, then scored on Shavaughne Desecki's single to centerfield. Desecki was caught in a rundown at third base to end the third inning.

DePaul put the game away in the sixth inning, scoring six runs on six hits to go ahead 8-0. Julie Luna doubled down the leftfield line to put the first two of the inning's runs on the board. A single down the right line by Tami Bouck, a pair of wild pitches by Michigan reliever Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS), and a leftfield single by Liz Bouck scored the final four Blue Demon runs. Wolverine starter Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) gave up seven hits and six runs over the first five and one-third innings, dropping to 17-7 for the season.

Michigan's best chance to end its three-game NCAA regional scoring drought came in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) singled to third, then Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) drew a walk. Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) sent a single to rightfield to move the runners, but Desecki's throw from rightfield gunned down Taylor at home plate. The Wolverines, who were held to three hits by Chouinard (16-8), were retired in order in their final three at-bats.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On Blue Demon Shavaughne Desecki's two-run single in the third inning ... "I didn't think we should have pitched to Desecki; we certainly considered walking her. I hesitated and obviously I wish I could take that back because she's just too good of a hitter to give her the opportunity. They just got the hits when they needed them."

On Michigan's offense ... "I really think the key was we didn't put any offensive pressure on them and made it a lot easier for their pitcher to pitch. We weren't very disciplined at the play and it is difficult when the offense doesn't do its part."

DePaul Head Coach Eugene Lenti
On the team's tournament experience ... "We have a group of seniors who have been to the NCAAs four years in a row and one (Women's College) World Series, so the experience showed today. Shavaughne (Desecki) played in the World Series last year and she had a big hit driving in the first run. Julie Luna, Tami Bouck, Toni Campbell and Dana Jukusz all had big at bats and they were the five starters who played in the World Series last year. So they know how to play in these pressure situations and they know how to play relaxed as well."

On strategic play ... "I had us bunt a little more than typically; Jenny Davis is our specialist in that category. Liz (Bouck) got on twice, so we had Jenny advance her and then Shavaughne (Desecki) batted the runs in. The weather was a little colder, so I figured we weren't gonna get a lot of runs in. I wanted to get the runners on second and third."

On facing U-M pitcher Marie Barda ... "We executed good all day long. We didn't strike out a lot against Marie; she's a great pitcher and had a great year for them. Our kids knew Marie because she's from our area and we knew what she threw and that really helped us today."

DePaul Rightfielder Shavaughne Desecki
On playing in the same conference in high school as Wolverine pitcher Marie Barda ... "I've played against her since my sophomore year in high school. She only had a fastball back then. Now she has a change-up and a little bit of a rise-ball, so I think she's improved a lot. Me and a few other of our players told our team that she throws hard, but it's not as hard as it looks."

DePaul Pitcher Lindsay Chouinard
On Michigan's offensive struggles throughout the season ... "I didn't think about how they've been playing. I think I was really good at hitting my spots today. I've been bad at that recently, so I hit my spots really well and had a good change-up to keep them off balance."

On having to wait a day to play the game because of the rain ... "Ever since I got here I wanted to play this game. I had really good feelings about playing Michigan. I felt good last night and I felt good this morning, so getting it going was the key."

N O T E S

Today's game marked the first time DePaul has beaten Michigan in five games. The teams have faced each other three times in NCAA Regional play.

The 8-0 DePaul win marked the first time the Blue Demons have won a regional game via the run rule, and it was the first time U-M has lost a regional game that way.

Michigan now has gone 21 straight innings without scoring a run in NCAA regional games.

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423