Michigan
12-4
South Carolina
11-1
Ritter Strikes Out 13 in Extra-Inning Loss to Gamecocks
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The seventh-ranked University of Michigan softball team dropped its Gold Bracket quarterfinal contest to South Carolina 2-1 in eight innings this afternoon (Saturday, Feb. 28) at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Wolverines will continue action tomorrow in the Gold Bracket consolation semifinals. Despite the loss, a Michigan starting pitcher tossed another gem as Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) went the distance, striking out 13 without issuing a walk in the loss. Fellow sophomore leadoff hitter Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) collected one of Michigan's five hits and drove in its only run.
South Carolina gained the early lead by scratching a run across in the first thanks to a leadoff single and RBI double. That was all damage the Gamecocks could muster against Ritter, who also allowed a two-out single in the second but then proceeded to set down 10 straight, including the side in order in the third, fourth and fifth frames.
Meanwhile, Michigan tied the contest in the third when Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) led off with an infield single and eventually scored on a two-out single by Haas. While Ritter was getting in a groove, the Michigan offense threatened in both the fourth and sixth innings with runners in scoring position but could not get the timely hit.
As the game moved into the eighth inning, both teams opened the inning with a runner on second base according to the international tiebreaker. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Michelle Teschler (Casco, Mich./Richmond HS) was picked off and Michigan left its half of the eighth scoreless. South Carolina, on the other hand, successfully sacrificed its runner to third and brought home the winning run when the next hitter singled.
Michigan, which is now 2-3 against ranked teams this season, will face No. 5 Oklahoma in the Gold consolation semifinals at 9 a.m. Sunday. A win would put the Wolverines the 1 p.m. consolation final.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stacey Johnson (0-0)
L: Ritter, Jennie (4-2)
Batting:
RBI: Haas, Tiffany 1
SH: Merchant, Jessica 1 ; Churchill, Angie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Betley, Courtney 1
PO: Teschler, Michelle 1
Batting:
2B: Meghan Cornett 1
RBI: Meghan Cornett 1 ; Chrissy Schoonmaker 1
SH: McKenna Hughes 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nancy Crane 1 ; Margaret Person 1
