2003 NCAA Softball Regional 7 -- Game 11 story
5/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2003 NCAA Softball
Championship Regional 7
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Saturday, May 17 -- Noon -- Game 11
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Softball Championship Regional 7 (Game 11)
Result: Michigan 5, Notre Dame 3
Records: Michigan (43-15), Notre Dame (38-17)
Next Michigan Game: Saturday, May 17 -- vs. DePaul/California loser, 5 p.m.
Next Notre Dame Game: Notre Dame eliminated with 2-2 regional record
Moulden's Hitting Backs Young's Pitching in Michigan Win
Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Paced by Marissa Young's complete-game, 14-strikeout performance and Melinda Moulden's four runs batted in, the No. 3 seed University of Michigan Wolverines eliminated No. 4 seed University of Notre Dame 5-3 today (Saturday, May 17) in Game 11 of the NCAA Softball Region 7 Championship at Michigan's Alumni Field.
After Young struck out two of four batters she faced to retire Notre Dame in the first, the Wolverines' offense got going early in the bottom of the inning. Tiffany Haas reached on a throwing error by Notre Dame third baseman Andrea Loman. U-M's Meghan Doe then reached on the Irish's second error of the inning as Andria Bledsoe, who was covering first base, bobbled the throw after Doe's sacrifice bunt. With two aboard, Moulden hit her ninth home run of the season to give the Wolverines an early 3-0 lead.
The Irish answered in the top of the second. Following a Lisa Mattison single and a walk to Mallorie Lenn with one out, Liz Hartman smashed a three-run home run to leftfield, just missing the Alumni Field scoreboard, to tie the game at 3-3. A little rattled, Young then allowed a double by Nicole deFau before regaining her composure to strike out Megan Ciolli and get Alexis Madrid to ground out, ending the Notre Dame rally.
Not to be topped, the Wolverines answered Notre Dame's second-inning rally by plating two more runs in the bottom of the second. Jessica Merchant doubled into centerfield and then advanced to third after Jennifer Olds' perfect bunt put two aboard for the Wolverines. After a Grace Leutele strikeout, Haas stepped up and rapped a single through the middle of the infield to give U-M a 4-3 lead. Doe then reached safely on a fielder's choice to bring Moulden to the plate with two aboard. Moulden hit another deep ball, smashing a single into deep centerfield to drive in Haas and give the Wolverines a two-run advantage, 5-3.
The pace of the game then settled into a pitcher's duel as Young (21-3) and Heather Booth (21-10) did not allow another run for the rest of the game. Young retired the last 17 Irish batters she faced, with 1-2-3 innings in the third through seventh innings, and she struck out the side in the third and again in the seventh inning to end of the game.
Michigan (43-15) advances to play the loser of the DePaul vs. California game today at 5 p.m. Notre Dame is eliminated from the tournament, concluding its season with a 38-17 record.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On the game ... "I thought Notre Dame gave us a great battle. They had a great season. I though our kids came out real determined. Marissa Young had a great effort. It is all guts this time of the year. Our seniors, in particular Melinda Molden, hit the ball well and just made things happen for us. We came to battle and made things happen for us."
Senior Pitcher Marissa Young
On her performance after giving up the home run ... "Like Coach (Hutchins) said, I was determined not to let them beat me again. I was really focused on the pain in my arm, so I just let my pitches fly and they were moving really well."
On if the strategy changed in the third inning ... "I think we went at the batters more. Before the home run, I was getting behind in the count and I had to bring the ball over the plate. I just had to go at them earlier. I used my changeup a lot more and that kept them off balance."
Senior Outfielder Melinda Moulden
On her home run ... "I am not sure what type of pitch it was. Meghan (Doe) and Tiffany (Haas) were on base, so I knew I had to move them over to get them in better position to score. I just saw a pitch and swung."
Notre Dame Head Coach Deanna Gumpf
On the game ... "To win a game of softball you have to do the little things right. You have to play defense, you have to pitch well and you have to hit well. We made some mistakes defensively early in the game. We did not control their hitters early in the game. I thought we hit pretty well. You have to do all three areas of the game well at this time of the year and when something falters, people are going to score."
N O T E S
Michigan improves to 6-4 all-time against Notre Dame.
Michigan's Melinda Moulden hit her ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot in the first inning, and Notre Dame's Liz Hartman hit her ninth home run of the season with a three-run round-tripper in the second inning.
Michigan's Marissa Young struck out 14 and after allowing her first earned runs of the regional did not allow a hit after the second inning. She now has 29 strikeouts to lead the tournament.
