U-M Takes Down No. 21 Wisconsin, Wins 14th Straight

Saturday, April 14

Madison, Wis.

2:00 PM CT

Michigan

26-11-1, 9-0

Wisconsin

24-17, 6-5

Michigan

Wisconsin

4/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Michigan softball team upped its win streak to 14 straight and remained the only team perfect in Big Ten Conference play with a 4-2 win over 21st-ranked Wisconsin this afternoon (Saturday, April 14) at the Goodman Softball Complex. Senior catcher Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) led the Wolverine offensive attack, going 2-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, and the Michigan win coupled with second-place Iowa's loss at Illinois pushed U-M's lead in the Big Ten standings to two games over the Hawkeyes (7-2 Big Ten).

As has been the case for much of the Wolverines' 14-game win streak, Michigan (26-11-1, 9-0 Big Ten) jumped out to the early lead, scoring single runs in each of the first two innings. Senior co-captain Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS), who led the Big Ten hitting entering this weekend's play (.481), delivered the first of her three hits on the day with a one-out triple to leftfield in the first and then scored on an illegal pitch while Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS) was at the plate.

Senior shortstop Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) led off the second inning with her team-best 11th double of the season and reached third base on a passed ball. Following a walk to starting pitcher Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS), Bugel came through with the first of her two hits on the day to drive in Tune for a 2-0 Michigan lead. The Wolverines threatened for more in the second, loading the bases with two outs, but Volpe lined out to the shortstop to end the inning.

Young, who got her eighth straight win to run her mark to 14-6, cruised through the first four innings while giving up just one runner on a walk in the third. The sophomore hurler carried her no-hitter with one out in the fifth before giving up a single to Badger second baseman Anna Jones. After getting the second out of the inning on a fly ball to leftfield, Young was touched for a two-out, two-run home run by Sheena Padovan, which cut the Wolverine lead to one (3-2).

Michigan quickly responded and stretched its lead to 4-2 with an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Again Bugel was in the middle of the Michigan uprising, drilling a leadoff single to centerfield. After a foul-out by Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS), Bugel stole second and scored on a single to left-center off the bat of Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS), the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week.

Wisconsin threatened again in the sixth after consecutive two-out singles put runners on first and second, but Young induced a pop-out to the shortstop to maintain the Wolverines' 4-2 lead heading into the seventh. Michigan was retired in order in its half of the seventh, and after Young allowed a leadoff single in the bottom half of the seventh, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins called on Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale HS) to close out Michigan's 14th straight win. Barda answered the challenge, setting down the next three hitters in order, including a groundout to first base by Padovan, who represented the tying run. Barda struck out Kerry Hagen to end the game and earn her first save of the season.

The Wolverine will look for a four-game sweep of their weekend series at Minnesota and Wisconsin with a single game vs. the Badgers Sunday (April 15, 1 p.m. CDT) at the Goodman Softball Complex in Madison, Wis.

Diamond Gems

Rebecca Tune's team-leading 11th double of the season gives her a new personal season best for doubles. Tune collected 10 doubles in her sophomore campaign.

Melissa Taylor's three-hit performance was her team-leading 15th multi-hit game of the season, including her team-best ninth three-hit game of 2001.

Michigan's win over the 21st-ranked Badgers is its fourth of the season over a ranked team. The Wolverines are 4-8 vs. ranked opposition this season.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423