Pitching Dominates as Wolverines Win Two of Three

Saturday, March 17

Tallahassee, Fla.

12:00 PM

Michigan

8-8

Troy

22-9

Michigan

Troy State

3/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score 3

Site: Tallahassee, Fla. (Seminole Complex)
Event: Tallahassee Democrat Seminole Invitational (Day 2)
Results: #21 Michigan 2 Troy State 1; #21 Michigan 2 Iowa State 0;
   #18 Nebraska 5, #21 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (9-9)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, March 18 C vs. Syracuse (Tallahassee, Fla.), noon

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The No. 21-ranked University of Michigan softball team won two of three games on Saturday (March 17) in day two of the Tallahassee Democrat Seminole Invitational hosted by Florida State. The Wolverines finished pool play with a 2-1 win over Troy State, then defeated Iowa State 2-0 in round one of bracket play, but No. 18 Nebraska shut out Michigan 5-0 to eliminate the Wolverines from the tournament.

Michigan (9-9) began the day with a dominating performance from senior Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) in the circle. Barda took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and relinquished just one hit -- a solo home run which ended the shutout -- in the 2-1 victory. Barda added six strikeouts in the opening game.

The Wolverines scored single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, thanks to the hot bats of their first four hitters, who went 6-13 in the game. Senior Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) and junior Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) led the way with three and two hits, respectively.

Game two pitted the Wolverines against Iowa State in the first round of bracket play. Michigan was led by sophomore Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS), who threw a two-hit shutout. The Wolverines took the lead in the fourth when a double to left-center from senior Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) scored Taylor. Michigan struck again in the sixth as senior Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) ripped a double to left, bringing home fellow senior Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS).

Fresh off the victory, Michigan had to turn right around to play No. 18 Nebraska for its third game of the day. The Wolverines were unable to disrupt the Cornhuskers' Leigh Ann Walker, who allowed just one hit and had 13 strikeouts. Nebraska took the lead in the second on a solo home run off Young, then widened the gap in the third on a three-run double.

With Michigan eliminated from the tournament, head coach Carol Hutchins has scheduled a game against Syracuse on Sunday (March 18, noon) in Tallahassee, Fla.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423