Pitching Pushes Michigan Past Rutgers, Florida Atlantic

Friday, February 20

Boca Raton, Fla.

Noon

Michigan

4-2

Rutgers

1-1

Michigan

Rutgers

Pitching Pushes Michigan Past Rutgers, Florida Atlantic

2/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Stadium)
Event: Florida Atlantic Invitational
Scores: #9 Michigan 2, Rutgers 1; #9 Michigan 3, Florida Atlantic 1
Records: U-M (5-2), FAU (8-4)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Feb. 21 -- vs. Eastern Michigan at Florida Atlantic Invitational (Boca Raton, Fla.), noon

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan softball team ran its record to 5-2 with a pair of wins today (Friday, Feb. 20) at the Florida Atlantic Invitational. The Wolverines eked out a 2-1 win over Rutgers in eight innings this afternoon behind another strong performance from sophomore hurler Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS). Ritter struck out a career-high 11 hitters while allowing just three hits and a single run on a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

Senior co-captain Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) was the hero offensively, scoring Michigan's first run and driving in the game-winner on a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

In the nightcap, Michigan dropped host Florida Atlantic 3-1 behind a 2-for-3 performance at the plate from Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS). The junior shortstop drove in two of the three Wolverine runs and connected for her team-leading fourth home run of the season.

Doe completely manufactured Michigan's first run against Rutgers in the top of the first when she led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Tiffany Haas' (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) sacrifice fly. Ritter set down the first two in the Scarlet Knights' half of the first but gave up a solo home run to knot the score.

Rutgers threatened in the second as well thanks to an error, wild pitch and sacrifice bunt, but Ritter set the next two down to strand the runner at third. The Scarlet Knights never advanced a runner past second the rest of the game.

The Wolverines struggled offensively as well, but when the international tiebreaker was instituted in the eighth inning, placing Michelle Teschler (Casco, Mich./Richmond HS) on second to begin the inning, Michigan executed. Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) sacrificed her to third and Doe delivered a sacrifice fly. With Rutgers afforded the same opportunity in the bottom of the frame, Ritter stranded the runner on second with a strikeout and consecutive groundouts.

The Maize and Blue fell behind in the second game of the day when Florida Atlantic pushed one across in the first. Michigan responded in the second after Jennifer Olds (North Palm Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS), who had her five-game hit streak snapped against Rutgers, led off with a single. Michigan again executed the sacrifice to put her in scoring position, and Betley brought her around with a single.

Merchant took over from there, connecting on a solo home run in the fourth and driving in Doe with a two-out double in the sixth to secure the win. Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) earned the win, going seven strong innings while allowing just four hits and an unearned run.

Michigan closes out pool play in the Florida Atlantic Invitational tomorrow against Eastern Michigan (noon) and Long Island (2 p.m.). The tournament's championship round is set for Sunday.

N O T E S

Jessica Merchant now has four home runs this season, which is just one shy of the career-high five she hit a year ago.

Jennie Ritter has 33 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched.

Michigan pitchers have allowed more than four hits in a game just once this season.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423