Michigan
Akron
Young, Motycka Give Akron Zip in Doubleheader Sweep
4/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Scores: #13 Michigan 1, Akron 0; #13 Michigan 1, Akron 0 (8 innings)
Records: U-M (29-8), Akron (18-18)
Next U-M Game: Friday, April 18 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 3 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 13th-ranked University of Michigan softball team ran its season-best win streak to 13 games with a pair of 1-0 wins in a doubleheader sweep over Akron this evening (Wednesday, April 16) at Alumni Field. On a chilly night in Ann Arbor, it took the Wolverines (29-8) eight innings to pull out the game-two victory when junior Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) drove a two-out single into left-center, scoring Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) from third with the game-winning run. Merchant was the only Wolverine with two hits in each game, including a pair of doubles in the nightcap.
The game-two victory went to sophomore Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS), who went the full eight innings, allowing just two runs and striking out a career-best 10. Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week Marissa Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS) tossed the game-one shutout, allowing just three hits while collecting a season-best 12 K's for her sixth shutout of the season. Combined, Young and Motycka struck out 22 hitters and allowed just five hits in 15 innings of work.
In what would become a theme throughout the evening, Michigan's first threat of game one came in the second when the Wolverines loaded the bases behind a Merchant single and a pair of walks. Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS), however, grounded back to the pitcher, stranding the first three Wolverines of the night. Michigan stranded a total of 22 in the doubleheader, including 14 in game two. Akron's initial baserunners of game one came with two outs in the third on consecutive singles, but the big two-out hit eluded the Zips as well.
The Wolverines needed just one two-out hit in the first game and Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) delivered in the third frame, roping a shot to rightfield and scoring Doe from second. Doe had walked and stolen second to get into scoring position. That turned out to be all the Wolverines needed as Young set the side down in order in the fourth and fifth innings. She did allow a runner to reach second in each of the last two innings, but got the pitches when she needed to secure a 1-0 Michigan win.
The Wolverines seemed on the verge of breaking game open two several times, putting a runner in scoring position in all eight innings but failing to push a run across until Doe's two-out single in the bottom of the eighth. Probably Michigan's best opportunity came in the third when Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) reached on an infield single and moved to second on Akron's second error of the game. The Zips (18-18) committed five in game two alone, but only the fifth one would prove costly. After Haas and Doe were pushed up a base on a sacrifice, Schock flew out to shallow centerfield and Lisa Mack (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) grounded back to the circle with the bases loaded.
While the Wolverines struggled coming up with the big hit, Motycka was holding Akron in check with one of her best performances as a Wolverine. She allowed one runner in both the second and third innings but then set down 12 straight hitters at one point, including 1-2-3 frames in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Probably Michigan's best chance in regulation came in the sixth when Merchant started a potential rally with the first of her two doubles. Two Akron errors later the bases were loaded with just one out and the top of the Michigan order due up. Akron starter Megan Mackenzie answered the challenge and found her way out of the jam, inducing a groundball from Haas to force Merchant at the plate and getting Doe to groundout to first base.
Akron used the momentum from that performance to stage their best offensive threat of the game. Tracee McCoy came through with a leadoff single and was standing on second base with two outs after a sacrifice and strikeout. However, Merchant committed Michigan's first error of the night and Motycka walked just her second of the game to load the bases. Kelly Quigley took Motycka deep in the count, before sending a pitch back through the box that Motycka turned into the final out of the inning.
After a 1-2-3 top of the eighth from Motycka, the Wolverines finally broke through in the bottom of the frame thanks to a leadoff double from Merchant, the Zips' fifth error of the game and Doe's clutch hit. Following her leadoff double, Merchant moved to third with one out on a sacrifice from Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Calif./Buena HS). A popout later, however, and it looked like Mackenzie might pitch out of another jam. She would have, but Haas' groundball to third base was mishandled and gave Doe the chance for the game-winning hit.
The Wolverines return to Big Ten action on Friday (April 18, 3 p.m.) with the first of a two-game set against Ohio State at Buckeye Field in Columbus, Ohio. The teams meet again on Saturday (April 19, noon).
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On the game overall ... "I thought Akron's pitchers did a nice job of keeping us off balance and not giving us a lot of good pitches to hit. The balls we did hit hard we were pulling foul because of their pitchers' location, so you have to give them credit. It was a long, cold evening and those are not ideal conditions to hit in, but we stayed with it and our pitching was excellent."
N O T E S
Marissa Young's shutout in game one is the 34th of her career, which moves her into sole possession of third place on the Wolverine career list, surpassing Kelly Kovach (1992-95). Vicki Morrow (1984-87) is No. 2 on the list with 36, while Sara Griffin (1995-98) holds the record with 40.
Michigan is now 10-3 in one-run games.
After an 0-4 start, Nicole Motycka has won 12 of her last 13 decision.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
