Four-Run Rally in Sixth Gives Michigan Tournament Title

Sunday, February 22

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:00 PM

Michigan

8-2

Florida Atlantic

10-5

Florida Atlantic

Michigan

Four-Run Rally in Sixth Gives Michigan Tournament Title

2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan softball needed a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning today (Sunday, Feb. 22) for a 4-3 comeback win over Florida Atlantic in the championship game of the Florida Atlantic Invitational. Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) tied the game with a run-scoring double in the sixth and Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) drove in the game-winner with a sacrifice fly, giving the win to Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS), who came out of the bullpen to toss 2.2 scoreless innings for the victory.

Michigan shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) earned tournament MVP recognition after hitting .438 (7-16) for the tournament with three home runs and a 1.125 slugging percentage.

Michigan was forced to make a late-inning comeback for the first time in the tournament after the Owls scored one in the third inning and two in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. Three singles against Michigan starter Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) plated one run in the third, but any further damage was averted when Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) gunned down another potential run at the plate.

The Wolverine offense did little damage through the first four frames, and FAU pushed its lead to three with two more in the fifth. Two of the first three hitters in the fifth reached for the Owls, prompting Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to call on Motycka out of the bullpen. The first two Florida Atlantic hitters greeted the Wolverine junior with singles, the second of which plated two runs for the 3-0 lead. With runners on second and third with just one out, the Owls threatened to blow it open, but Motycka induced consecutive groundouts.

Heading into the sixth inning, the Wolverines had collected just three hits and had not advanced a runner past first base, but Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) led off with a double and Doe, who hit a team-best .438 for the tournament, connected on a run-scoring single to get the Maize and Blue on the board. After a Merchant groundout, consecutive errors by the Florida Atlantic shortstop plated Doe and put runners on the corner. Schock then delivered her biggest hit of the season with a double down the rightfield line to tie the score and put the go-ahead run on third. Betley cashed in the opportunity with a sacrifice fly.

The Owls put a little scare in Michigan in the seventh, connecting for consecutive singles with two outs, but Motycka forced another groundout to clinch the win.

Michigan takes one day off before traveling to Miami, Fla., to face Florida International in a single game on Tuesday (Feb. 24, 4 p.m.).

N O T E S

The Michigan pitching staff went 5-0 with a 0.80 ERA while striking out 34 against just seven walks for the tournament.

Meghan Doe was the only Wolverine to record a hit and run scored in all five games of the tournament and now owns a team-high six-game hit streak.

Jennifer Olds (North Palm Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS) has a hit in nine of the first 10 games this season.

Michigan is now 3-1 in one-run games.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423