U-M Shut Out, Eliminated by Sooners at Leadoff Classic

Sunday, February 29

Columbus, Ga.

9:00 AM

Michigan

12-5

Oklahoma

15-4-1

Oklahoma

Michigan

U-M Shut Out, Eliminated by Sooners at Leadoff Classic

2/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The seventh-ranked University of Michigan softball dropped the final game of its 11-day Spring Break trip this morning (Sunday, Feb. 29), falling 4-0 to No. 5 Oklahoma in the consolation semifinals of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Wolverines finish the tournament 3-2 after reaching the Gold Bracket playoffs for the fifth time in eight appearances at the premier college softball non-conference tournament.

Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS), who had completely dominated Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech in her first two Leadoff Classic appearances, took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings of work. Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), who struck out 13 in 7.1 innings of work in a loss to No. 20 South Carolina yesterday, came on in relief and K'd six Sooners over the final 2.1 innings.

Following a 1-2-3 first, Motycka was touched for a pair of runs in the second on four hits. The damage could have been worse, but senior rightfielder Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) gunned down a potential run at the plate for the inning's second out. Betley was also involved in Michigan's best scoring opportunity in the third when she led off the inning with a walk. Following a sacrifice, Betley was at second with two down when Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) singed, but Oklahoma returned the favor to Betley and cut her down at the plate.

Motycka appeared to be settling down after limiting the Sooners to a single baserunner in the third and fourth innings, but she again found trouble in the fifth. Oklahoma connected for a leadoff home run, and then with two outs a single, stolen base and another single upped the margin to 4-0. Ritter came on to get the final out of the frame on strikes.

Michigan put together one final threat in the sixth when Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) was hit by a pitch with two outs and Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) followed with a single. The hit was Merchant's fourth of the tournament, which matched Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) and Jennifer Olds (North Palm Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS) for the team lead. With two out and two runners on, Olds, who already had three home runs in the tournament, stepped to the plate but went down on strikes. The Wolverines went quietly in the seventh.

After playing 17 games in 16 days to open the season, the Wolverines now take a week off before heading to the Seminole Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla., on March 12-14.

N O T E S

Monica Schock finished with a team-leading .364 aveage at the Leadoff Classic, while Jessica Merchant checked in at .308.

Jennie Ritter proved she is ready for the nation's elite at the Leadoff Classic, going 1-1 with a 0.79 ERA while striking out 27 and walking just one in 17.2 innings of work.

Michigan pitchers finished the tournament with 40 strikeouts and just three walks in 36.1 innings.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423