Wolverines Fall at Alabama in Battle of Top-20 Teams

Wednesday, February 28

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

5-7

Alabama

15-0

Michigan

Alabama

2/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The 18th-ranked University of Michigan softball team gave up four runs in the bottom of the first and was unable to recover as the Wolverines dropped a 7-2 contest to No. 3 Alabama on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at the Alabama Softball Complex. Sophomore Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) drilled her team-leading third home run of the season to highlight the Wolverine effort.

After Alabama's leadoff hitter reached on an error and advanced to second to begin the bottom half of the first, Wolverine pitcher Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) gave up a bunt single to put runners on the corners. An Alabama groundout to first pushed the first run of the game across the plate. Following a walk, Alabama put together a single and a double to plate two more runs, then pushed across its fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice bunt before Young, who took the loss and dropped to 3-4 on the season, got the final out on a strikeout.

The Crimson Tide (15-0) scored a solo run in the bottom of the second before Michigan got on the board on Moulden's solo shot to lead off the top of the fourth. Moulden's home run was Michigan's first hit of the game and was followed two outs later by a double to centerfield by Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS), but that was it for the Maize and Blue in the fourth.

Although the Wolverines' first hit came on Moulden's homer, Michigan had its chances in the early going. A walk and Alabama error to start off the third put Michigan runners on the corners with nobody out. A groundout by Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) pushed Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) to second to put runners on second and third with one out and the top of the Wolverine order coming up. However, Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) fouled out and Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) grounded to end the Wolverine rally.

Michigan (5-7) scored just one more time in the final three innings as Moulden drilled her first career triple to lead off the top half of the sixth and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Young.

The Wolverines continue their spring trip tomorrow (Thursday, March 1) with a game at Mississippi State at 4 p.m. CST. The game is a makeup from the rainout on Tuesday (Feb. 27).

Diamond Gems

Kelsey Kollen went 0-for-4, snapping her streak of 11 straight games reaching base safely via hit or walk.

Melinda Moulden's home run produced her team-leading seventh RBI of the season and marked the fifth game in Michigan's last seven that Moulden has knocked in at least one run.

Moulden's seven total bases match a Michigan season best, which was first set by Melissa Taylor with two doubles and a triple in Michigan's 4-0 win over Long Beach State on Feb. 17.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423