Michigan
Washington
Wolverines Drop Pair to Ranked Foes at Leadoff Classic
2/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Event: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Score: #5 Washington 5, #15 Michigan 3 (completion of suspended game)
#16 South Carolina 3, #15 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (3-5), Washington (11-0-1), South Carolina (9-5)
Next U-M Game: Tuesday, Feb. 25 -- DH at Texas-San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas), 1 p.m. CST
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan softball team dropped back-to-back contests to No. 5 Washington (5-3) and No. 16 South Carolina (3-0) on Sunday (Feb. 23) while rounding out pool play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Because rain postponed Friday's action and then delayed the start of play and suspended U-M's game against Washington Saturday, the bracket play portion of the tournament was cancelled. U-M (3-5) finished with a 1-2 tournament record.
In the opener against UW, Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) took her fourth loss in as many starts while hurling all seven innings. Motycka gave up eight hits but was hurt more by her three hit batsmen and four team errors, which contributed to two unearned runs. In the afternoon game against South Carolina, U-M could not get its bats going as it was shut out for the first time since last year's Women's College World Series (1-0 vs. Nebraska, 5/25/02). The Wolverines mustered just two hits and three total baserunners against Gamecocks pitcher Stacey Johnson, who struck out eight Wolverines in seven innings.
Washington earned a 2-0 lead after four innings on Saturday night (Feb. 22) before the game was suspended due to rain and restarted Sunday morning. The Huskies began the top of the second inning by having the first three batters reach base on back-to-back singles and then a hit batter. Amy Hanson drove in a run on a fielder's choice that left the bases still full. Motycka worked out of the jam, however, by inducing two groundouts for forceouts at home plate and then recording one of her four strikeouts to end the threat. In the fourth inning, UW got its first batter aboard with a single and then moved her around to third base with a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. Another single brought in the runner and capped the scoring.
The Huskies extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Michigan suffered from multiple defensive miscues. With runners on first and second and one out, Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) misplayed a ball, allowing UW to load the bases. Following a flyout, Michigan failed to end the inning when Jennifer Olds (Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS) could not corral a grounder to first base, which resulted in two runners crossing the plate.
Michigan finally responded in its half of the fifth inning by capitalizing on a two-out walk. With a runner on first, Motycka doubled to drive in U-M's first run of the game. The Wolverines trimmed their deficit to a single run one frame later in the sixth. Michigan's first two hitters reached base, resulting in a pitching change for Washington. Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) scored for U-M when UW's second basemen committed her second consecutive error of the inning. After a strikeout and a play at home resulted in two outs, Olds singled in Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS). Unfortunately, the rally ended with a strikeout with runners on first and second.
Washington added an insurance run in the seventh inning with back-to-back doubles. In its final at-bat, Michigan mustered just a single base hit before popping out to second and grounding out to the pitcher. No Michigan player had more than one hit, run or RBI in the game, while UW's Kathy Fiske went 3-for-4 with two runs and Sarah Hyatt was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
South Carolina moved runners to third base in both the first and second innings but U-M starter Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) was able to battle back and retire the side both times. However, in the fourth inning the Gamecocks broke through to take a 2-0 lead. With one out and the bases loaded, Meghan Cornett knocked in two runs with a single. Ritter limited the damage, though, and stranded runners on second and third by striking out a batter before forcing a flyout. The fifth inning featured another run for USC when Debralee Troesh hit a homer over the rightfield fence.
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Michigan got its only scoring opportunity of the game. Michelle Teschler (Casco, Mich./Richmond HS) reached first on an error by the pitcher and then stole second. With two outs, Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) then laid a bunt down for a single to put runners on the corners. The opportunity ended with a groundout to second base.
Michigan will next play at Texas-San Antonio in a 1 p.m. CST doubleheader on Tuesday (Feb. 25).
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
