Michigan
8-6
Texas
19-2
Motycka, Michigan Beat Texas in Eight to Win Tournament
3/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The 19th-ranked University of Michigan softball team ended its 12-day spring break trip on a very high note by defeating fifth-ranked Texas 3-2 in eight innings today (Sunday, March 2) in the championship game of the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational at McCombs Field.
| | Motycka picked up two wins in the Texas Invitational. |
Michigan's first three hitters in the order -- Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS), Doe and Melinda Moulden (LaCrescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley HS) -- went a combined a 7-12 and scored all three Michigan runs. The trio got things started right away in the first with three straight singles to load the bases. A Young groundout scored Haas and then Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) delivered a run-scoring single up the middle for a 2-0 Michigan lead. The Wolverines threatened for more in the first with two outs and runners on second and third, but Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Calif./Buena HS) was caught looking.
Texas immediately answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the first and could have had more if not for excellent defensive work by the Wolverines. Two singles, a passed ball and groundout pushed one run across and left a runner on third with just one out when Michigan turned the unusual 5-3-2 double play. Leutele took a groundball at third and threw the batter out at first, but the Texas runner on third tried sneaking home only to be gunned down at the plate by Young, with catcher Lisa Mack (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) applying the tag.
Both teams threatened again in the second with runners in scoring position and Texas was even forced to pull ace Cat Osterman out of its bullpen, but neither team could add to its total. Motycka and Osterman then settled in to a pitchers' duel with Osterman setting down the first nine Wolverines she faced. Motycka retired the Texas side in order in the third but was touched for a two-out double in the fourth, which tied the game at two. Doe was the first Wolverine to break through against Osterman with a one-out single in the fifth and eventually moved to second but was stranded there. Likewise, Texas put a runner on second in both the fifth and sixth innings, but was kept at bay by Motykca.
After both teams went quietly in the seventh, it was the top of the Michigan order coming through again in the eighth. Doe and Moulden led off with singles and when a throwing error allowed Doe to reach third the Longhorns intentionally walked Young to load the bases with nobody out. After a Merchant strikeout, Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) came off the bench to draw a pinch-hit walk to score the game-winner. That was all Michigan would get in the eighth, but the Wolverines did not need any more as Motycka closed with a 1-2-3 eighth for her second win of the season.
Michigan moves on to the Seminole Invitational next Friday through Sunday (March 7-9) in Tallahassee, Fla.
N O T E S
Michigan is now 3-2 this season vs. ranked opponents.
Meghan Doe's three-hit game today is her second of the season, which ties her for the team lead with Tiffany Haas.
After allowing just one earned run through eight innings today, Michigan pitchers lowered their team ERA to 1.99.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Motycka, Nicole (2-4)
L: Cat Osterman (11-2)
Batting:
RBI: Young, Marissa 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Schock, Monica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haas, Tiffany 1 ; Doe, Meghan 2
Batting:
2B: Marlo Hanks 1
RBI: Chez Sievers 1 ; Marlo Hanks 1
SH: Chez Sievers 1 ; Alexis Garcia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Tina Boutelle 1 ; Sam Murphy 1
SB: Tina Boutelle 1
HBP: Tiffany Anders 1
