2003 NCAA Softball Regional 7 -- Game 14 story
5/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2003 NCAA Softball
Championship Regional 7
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Sunday, May 18 -- Noon -- Game 14
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Softball Championship Regional 7 (Game 14)
Result: California 1, Michigan 0
Records: California (45-18), Michigan (44-16)
Next California Game: Thursday, May 22 -- vs. UCLA or Michigan State at Women's College World Series (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 9:30 p.m. CDT
Next Michigan Game: Michigan eliminated with 4-2 regional record
Cal Shuts Out Michigan, Earns Fifth Consecutive WCWS Berth
Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2 seed University of California Golden Bears employed a simple strategy on their way to winning the NCAA Softball Region 7 Championship: don't allow the opponent to score any runs. With pitcher Kelly Anderson limiting No. 3 seed University of Michigan to five hits in a complete-game effort, the Golden Bears defeated the host Wolverines 1-0 Sunday (May 18) at U-M's Alumni Field to earn a return trip to the Women's College World Series.
Cal, the defending national champion, scored the lone run of the game in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Chelsea Spencer, and that was enough for Anderson, who hurled 21 of the team's 25 scoreless innings in the regional and had a hand in all four shutouts. The Golden Bears pitching staff extended its scoreless streak in NCAA postseason action to 47 innings dating back to last year's WCWS.
Michigan recorded the first hit of the game with Tiffany Haas' leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning, but the Wolverines were unable to advance the runner and the game remained scoreless after one. Cal responded with a walk by Veronica Nelson to lead off the second inning. A double from Haley Woods advanced the runner to third and then Spencer's sacrifice fly to centerfield brought home the runner, giving Cal a 1-0 lead.
Both teams displayed solid defense over the next two innings, with neither club able to produce more than one hit. Then in the bottom of the fourth inning, Michigan threatened to tie the game. Melinda Moulden started the offense with a single down the leftfield line followed by a double from Marissa Young. Moulden was waved home from first on the play, but a strong throw from rightfield threw her out on her way to home, leaving the score 1-0.
The solid defense continued until Michigan had one last chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Young flied out to lead off the inning, Monica Shock walked and Jessica Merchant singled to put runners on first and second with one out. Cal's defense remained true to form, however, earning a strikeout and a groundout to preserve the 1-0 victory.
Cal (45-18) moves on to the Women's College World Series to face the Regional 2 winner -- either UCLA or Michigan State -- on Thursday (May 22) at 9:30 p.m. CDT in Oklahoma City, Okla. Michigan concludes its season with a 44-16 record.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On the loss ... "When you go out and leave everything on the field and don't win the game, it's disappointing. I'm not disappointed on how my team came out. They played fabulous and had every chance to win."
On the throw home that prevented the game-tying run for Michigan ... "They had a great jump on it and it wasn't close to the plate. In my mind, I'd do it over if you gave me 10 chances. The throw happened to be right where we were running. I waved her in because you don't get a lot of opportunities to score. I thought we had a great chance and we still had Marissa (Young) on second base."
Michigan Senior Pitcher Marissa Young
On her season and career ending ... "I didn't reach my ultimate goal, which was the World Series, but I gave it everything I had and my team was behind me. We've had a lot of struggles this season and we've battled back through all of them. We had a great tournament and it's going to be hard to leave."
On the pitching of Cal's Kelly Anderson ... "I don't think she was getting tired, we realized she wasn't giving us as many pitches to hit. We had to make some adjustments; some people were chasing a lot of balls. We had to be patient and wait for our pitch."
California Head Coach Diane Ninemire
On the game ... "This is truly a championship game, this is what you live for. It was a great effort by Michigan. It was a true battle and we were very fortunate that we came up with the key hits, the long sacrifice ball by Chelsea (Spencer) to score the runner and Kelly Anderson threw a great game today. It was a total team effort and I'm very proud that we're making our fifth consecutive trip back to the World Series."
On the play of Chelsea Spencer ... "Chelsea is an outstanding shortstop and her game has really come on strongly the last couple of weeks. I wasn't surprised that she would bring her best game at the most critical point of our season. She's just a really steady force out there and her plays really inspire our team. She did a great job."
On the importance of this game ... "I knew that this would be a close game with two teams really fighting it out. I expected nothing less than what we had today. To me, this is what a championship game is all about."
On her impression of the weekend ... "Ann Arbor is a great town and the hospitality and support we have received this weekend has been outstanding. I know that we will leave here with some fond memories and I want to thank everyone for putting so much effort into this tournament."
California Sophomore Pitcher Kelly Anderson
On her performance at the regional ... "I was up to the challenge this weekend. Whatever Coach needed me to do, I'd go out there and do the best that I could."
On her pitching strategy ... "I pretty much stay down. I don't really go up much. I just tried to go in and out and throw changeups to keep them off balance."
On her pitching in the seventh inning ... "I didn't want to give them anything too good to hit. My arm was getting pretty tired towards the end, but I had to give it all I could."
On making it to the World Series ... "This is my second trip. It's an outstanding reflection on our program to be making our fifth straight appearance."
California Sophomore Shortstop Chelsea Spencer
On her game-winning RBI ... "Going up to the plate, I knew I could do the job. Knowing that I needed a fly ball, I saw the pitch and went for it."
On her defense against Michigan ... "Kelly (Anderson) gave me all the opportunities to play my defense, and that's what I do well."
N O T E S
California is undefeated in its last 12 NCAA Tournament games.
Dating back to the 2002 NCAA Tournament, California has not allowed a run in 47 consecutive innings.
California will be making its fifth straight appearance in the Women's College World Series.
Kelly Anderson was named MVP of the tournament, while teammates Kaleo Eledredge, Vicky Galindo, Veronica Nelson, Courtney Scott, Chelsea Spencer and Haley Woods joined her on the All-Regional team.
Michigan's Marissa Young, Tiffany Haas and Melinda Moulden were named to the All-Regional team.
