Wolverines Eliminated from WCWS by No. 6 California

Saturday, May 26

Oklahoma City, Okla.

11:00 AM CT

Michigan

43-17-1

California

54-17

Michigan

California

5/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The 21st-ranked University of Michigan softball team's postseason run ended Saturday (May 26) with a 5-2 loss to No. 6 California at the Women's College World Series in Hall of Fame Stadium. A two-run home run by Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS) was not enough to make up for four U-M errors that led to four unearned runs as the Wolverines bowed out of the WCWS.

The Wolverines managed just a Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) single through the first three innings but broke through for their first runs of the 2001 WCWS in the fourth. Junior third baseman Volpe, a first-team All-Big Ten performer, followed a leadoff bunt single by Melissa Taylor (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield HS) with her fourth home run over the rightfield fence to give Michigan the 2-0 lead.

California immediately cut that lead in half in the bottom of the fourth with two walks, a single and a hit batsman. Starter Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale HS) walked the first two hitters of the inning and was then touched for the Bears' third hit of the game into rightfield to load the bases with nobody out. The situation prompted Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to replace Barda in the circle with Young as California mounted its biggest threat of the game. Young struck out the first hitter she faced, but hit the next batter to force in the first Bear run of the game. The sophomore hurler came back to retire the next two hitters and maintain the Wolverines' one-run lead heading into the fifth inning.

The Michigan lead was short-lived, however, as Young was touched for a pair of unearned runs in the fifth. The key play in the inning was a throwing error by catcher Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) that put runners on the corners with nobody out. A sacrifice fly tied the game and after a two were out, Courtney Scott delivered a single up the middle to grab the lead for California.

Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Taylor led off with her second bunt single of the game and was sacrificed to second by Volpe. Two subsequent hard-hit balls off the bats of Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) and Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) were turned into groundouts by the shortstop as the Wolverines continued to trail by a run.

Barda re-entered the game in the seventh to keep the Wolverines within striking distance, but three Wolverine errors led to two more unearned runs as Cal stretched its lead to three (5-2). California's leadoff hitter reached on a dropped fly ball. A walk and a single scored one run before Volpe bobbled a two-out groundball with the bases loaded for the Bears' final run of the game.

Senior Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) led off the seventh with her first career WCWS hit in five games, but that was all the Wolverines would get as they ended their season at the WCWS for the fifth time in seven years.

Q U O T E S

Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On the game in general ... "Well, we obviously did not play the game we expected to. We are capable of playing much better, but I do not have to remind these kids of that. However, that does not take away from the fact that this team struggled early in the year and came together to make it back to the World Series. As disappointed as we are, these kids have a lot to be proud of this year."

On her record at the WCWS ... "It is very tough to win here because not only are you playing against the best teams in the country, but you are going up against the hottest teams in the country. I would still prefer to be here as often as we have even though we do not have the best record than not get here at all."

Diamond Gems

Stefanie Volpe became just the second Wolverine to hit a home run at the WCWS. Melissa Gentile (1997-2000) hit three during her career.

With her two strikeouts today, pitcher Marissa Young set the Michigan single-season strikeout record with 185. The previous mark of 184 was accomplished twice by Sara Griffin (1995-98).

Kelsey Kollen was thrown out attempting to steal in the first inning, which was the first time she had been thrown out in 12 attempts this season.

Michigan finishes tied for seventh at the WCWS for the third time. The Wolverines' best finishes were ties for fifth in 1997 and 1998.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423