2003 NCAA Softball Regional 7 -- Game 8 story
5/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2003 NCAA Softball
Championship Regional 7
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, May 16 -- 3 p.m. -- Game 8
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Softball Championship Regional 7 (Game 8)
Result: California 9, Michigan 0 (5 innings)
Records: California (43-18), Michigan (41-15)
Next California Game: Saturday, May 17 -- vs. DePaul, 2:30 p.m.
Next Michigan Game: Friday, May 16 -- vs. Wright State, 5:30 p.m.
Big Innings Help Golden Bears Take Down Host Wolverines
Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2 seed California Golden Bears continued their national title defense and increased their postseason scoreless inning streak to 33 by posting a 9-0 victory against No. 3 seed and host Michigan Friday (May 16) in Game 8 of the NCAA Softball Region 7 Championship at Michigan's Alumni Field. The Golden Bears (43-18) used two big innings, scoring four in the first inning and five in the third inning in the shortened five-inning game.
After California's pitcher Kelly Anderson (18-10) shut down the Wolverines in the first inning with solid defense backing her, the Golden Bears racked up four runs in the bottom of the first. Vicky Galindo opened with a double down the leftfield line and advanced to third after Lindsay James grounded out to Michigan starter Nicole Motycka (17-10). Cal's Courtney Scott lined a shot to left, allowing Galindo to score, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Veronica Nelson then belted another single, giving Cal two on with only one away. Haley Woods made it three straight hits as she doubled to rightfield to score Scott.
U-M head coach Carol Hutchins replaced Motycka with Marissa Young to try and stop the Cal bats. Kaleo Eldredge ripped a single down the rightfield line to give Cal a 3-0 lead and its fourth straight hit of the inning. Chelsea Spencer popped up for the second out and Jessica Pamanian reached on an error, allowing Woods to score and giving Cal a 4-0 lead. After a Kristen Morley walk, the Wolverines finally got out of the inning when Galindo, up for the second time, lined out to Michigan second baseman Tiffany Haas.
Michigan's only rally in the game was cut short by a Cal double play down the third-base line. Haas singled past the third baseman, which was followed by a Meghan Doe walk. With two on, Melinda Moulden singled to rightfield to load the bases for the Wolverines. Monica Schock then stepped up and lined a shot to Galindo, who tagged Haas for the inning-ending double play.
The Golden Bears carried the momentum from the double play into the bottom of the third inning and put up five runs. Young got Eldredge out on a ground ball back to the mound but then walked Spencer. Pamanina then reached on a fielder's choice as Spencer was out at second. Morley reached on Michigan's second error of the game, as Haas fell as the ball went past her into rightfield. Galindo singled into right, driving in two runs and increasing the Cal lead to 6-0. After Young hit James with a pitch, she was pulled for Jennie Ritter. Ritter gave up a three-run home run to Scott and the Golden Bears held a 9-0 lead.
That is the way it stayed as Cal's Kristina Thorson shut down the Wolverines in the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
California advances in the winners bracket and faces No. 1 seed DePaul tomorrow (May 17) at 2:30 p.m. Michigan plays Wright State in an elimination game tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Q U O T E S
California Head Coach Diane Ninemire
On the game ... "I think it was an outstanding game that we played today. We knew going into it that it was going to be tough. Michigan is a great team with great pitching and good hitters. We really had to come out and play our best game today. I was so proud of the way our players came out that first inning and made a statement that they were here to play. Vicky Galindo led the charge today and got us going, and we never looked back. My players are here to play. We can only control what our team does. We're coming out and playing to the best of our abilities. I think today was an example of that."
N O T E S
California is now 5-0 all-time against Michigan.
Today's game was the first time Michigan has fallen victim to the run rule since an 8-0 NCAA Regional loss to DePaul on May 19, 2000.
The nine runs were the most that Michigan has given up since April 23, 2000, when the Wolverines dropped a 12-0 decision at Northwestern.
California has tossed 33 straight scoreless innings in the postseason.
California has not lost an NCAA postseason game since the 2001 national championship game, going 10-0 during that stretch.
California's Veronica Nelson increased her NCAA-record career walk total to 378.
