Michigan Has Big Ten Lead Cut in Half by Hawkeyes

Saturday, April 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

32-13-1, 15-2

Iowa

38-10, 14-3

Iowa

Michigan

4/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 21st-ranked University of Michigan softball team dropped its second conference game of the season and saw its lead in the Big Ten standings over 15th-ranked Iowa shaved to a single game after losing a 1-0 decision in eight innings to the Hawkeyes this afternoon (Saturday, April 28) at Alumni Field.

Michigan hurler Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) was on top of her game in the circle for the second straight day as she carried a perfect game with into the fifth with one out, completing a stretch of 32 straight hitters set down over two games. She retired the last 19 batters she faced in her one-hit shutout of Northwestern yesterday and set down the first 13 Hawkeyes she faced today, but allowed the game-winning run on a two-out single by Iowa designated player Jessica Bashor.

Young's perfect game was broken up in the fifth as a Hawkeye reached on an error and advanced to third with two outs after a passed ball and sacrifice bunt, but she was stranded there after Young induced a groundout to first baseman Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta Valley, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) to end the inning. Michigan placed a runner on second with two outs in each of the first two innings but was unable to come up with the key two-out hit.

Michigan (32-13-1, 15-2 Big Ten) was unable to advance a runner past first the remainder of the game and after Iowa starter Kristi Hanks gave up a one-out single to Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) in the bottom of the fourth, she set down the final 14 Wolverines in order.

Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes (38-10, 14-3 Big Ten) threatened in the sixth and seventh but came up empty. A walk and bunt single put runners on second and third for Iowa in the sixth, but a pair of infield groundouts left the game scoreless heading into the seventh. Two bunt singles, a sacrifice and two stolen bases by Iowa in the seventh again put runners on second and third, this time with two outs. Again, Young came up with the big out, forcing a groundout to third base. Michigan was then retired in order for the third straight inning in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

Iowa shortstop Kristin Johnson delivered a leadoff single -- the first Iowa hit of the game that was not a bunt -- but a fielder's choice and popout later Iowa had two outs and a runner on first. Erin Doud then stole second, which prompted the Wolverines to intentionally walk Iowa cleanup hitter Katy Jendrzejwksi. Basho then drilled a shot up the middle that was just out of the reach of a diving Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) at second base and centerfielder Meghan Doe's (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) throw to the plate was just a little late as Doud scored from second. Michigan went down 1-2-3 in its half of the eighth to end the game.

The Wolverines will look to regain their two-game Big Ten lead as they face off against Iowa again tomorrow (Sunday, April 28, 1 p.m.) in a single game at Alumni Field.

Diamond Gems

Michigan's loss today was its first of the season at Alumni Field. Michigan is now 11-1-1 at home this season.

Marissa Young took the loss today, which snapped her 11-game win streak.

After tomorrow's contest, Michigan and Iowa will each have two Big Ten games remaining on their schedules. Michigan plays a pair of single games next weekend vs. Michigan State. The Wolverines are at Michigan State on Saturday (May 5, 2 p.m.) before closing out the regular season at home vs. the Spartans on Sunday (May 6, 1 p.m.). Iowa hosts a pair of games vs. Northwestern to close out its regular season.

The Wolverines are now 1-3 this season in extra-inning games.

Tomorrow's Michigan-Iowa tilt will again be webcast on mgoblue.com with Doug Karsch providing the play-by-play.