Ohio Stalls No. 13 Michigan, Posts Doubleheader Sweep

Wednesday, May 3

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

38-12-1

Ohio University

15-25

Ohio

Michigan

Ohio Stalls No. 13 Michigan, Posts Doubleheader Sweep

5/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Results: Ohio 1-3, #13 Michigan 0-2 (1st game in 8 innings)
Records: U-M (38-13-1); Ohio (16-25)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, May 6 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After eight times being on the losing end of its 11 one-run games this season, Ohio University posted a pair of impressive single-run victories in sweeping No. 13-ranked University of Michigan in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Wednesday (May 3). The Bobcats (16-25) won the opener 1-0 in eight innings, then battled back for a 3-2 win in the nightcap to spoil the final regular-season home appearance of the Michigan senior class.

The teams went down in order in the first two innings of the opener before Ohio posted one hit and Michigan two in the third inning. U-M pitcher Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) retired the OU side in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and forced a pair of flyouts and stranded a runner at second in the seventh inning.

Michigan (38-13-1) went down in order in the fourth and fifth innings, then loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. U-M was unable to capitalize on the full bases as OU forced two outs at home and a long right field flyout to end the Wolverine threat. Michigan stranded Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) at third in the seventh to go to extra innings.

Tiffany Bolton singled to centerfield in the top of the eighth to end the scoreless game and send Jennifer Schmidt home for the game-winning run. Young (13-3), who struck out eight Ohio batters, took the loss for Michigan. Heather Hagan, the third Bobcat pitcher used in the game, posted the win (5-10) and helped hold U-M to four singles.

Neither team wasted time getting on the scoreboard in the second game. Ohio went ahead 1-0 on Jen Sewell's RBI double down the leftfield line in the top of the first. Michigan countered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning when Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) doubled to left centerfield to score Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) and Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS).

U-M held the Bobcats in check until the sixth inning when reliever Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) loaded the bases, then gave up a one-out infield single up the middle that scored a pair of runners and gave Ohio the 3-2 win. Hagen allowed just three Michigan hits and struck out eight in her complete game victory (6-10) while Barda (15-6) took the loss.

Michigan finishes up its Big Ten Conference schedule this weekend at Michigan State University, playing 1 p.m. single games on both Saturday and Sunday (May 6-7) at Old College Field in East Lansing.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

In the new poll released Wednesday, Michigan maintained its No. 13 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll for the second straight week. . . . Ohio's doubleheader sweep of Michigan is the first by a Mid-American Conference team since April 9, 1990, when Eastern Michigan swept U-M 7-4, 5-2 at Alumni Field. . . . The eight-inning opener is the first Michigan extra-inning game since its 2-1, nine-inning win vs. Arizona State on March 5.

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423