Michigan
14-5
Georgia State
5-7
Wolverine Offense Explodes in Win Over Georgia State
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The University of Michigan softball team used a sterling pitching effort this afternoon when Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) tossed the 20th no-hitter in Michigan history to beat Notre Dame 3-0 at the FSU Invitational. This evening it was the Michigan offense leading the way in a 12-1 run-rule win over Georgia State in five innings to move to 2-0 in pool play at the FSU tourney. The Wolverines pounded out 12 hits in just five innings while junior hurler Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) came up with the win, tossing four shutout innings.
Offensively, 10 different Wolverines collected at least one hit, but leadoff hitter Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) was the only Michigan player with a multi-hit game, going a perfect 3-3 from the plate and score a pair of runs.
Just as the Wolverines did in their win over Notre Dame earlier today, Michigan drew first blood in its first at-bat. A Haas single, error and walk loaded the bases with one out, and Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) delivered the first of three straight run-scoring singles. Motycka and Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) followed Schock's lead and the Wolverines led 3-0 before Motycka entered the pitching circle.
The game settled down over the second and third innings as both pitchers took control. Georgia State did put together its best threat against Motycka with two runners and just one out in the second, but an infield popout turned into an inning-ending double play.
The Wolverines broke the game open in the fourth after freshman catcher Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) led off with her first career triple and the first Michigan three-bagger of the season. Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) delivered the inning's other big blow when she added to her team-leading RBI total with a single that plated two.
With a 7-0 cushion heading into the fifth, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins gave the Wolverine reserves an opportunity and they made the most of it with five runs for a 12-0 lead. Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) and Lauren Holland (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) each collected pinch-hit singles, while Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale HS) drilled a two-run single and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 12-0 lead.
Georgia State did manage to push an unearned run across in the bottom of the fifth against Michigan freshman pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS), but Wilson eventually closed out the 12-1 win.
The Wolverines continue in pool play at the FSU Invitational tomorrow (March 13) against Troy State (noon) and Maryland (2 p.m.) before the bracket playoff play begins tomorrow evening at 5/7 p.m. Currently 2-0, Michigan needs two wins tomorrow gaurantee a spot in the Gold Bracket.
N O T E S
Tiffany Haas has hit safely in four straight games and has upped her season average above .300 to .306.
Michigan's three runs in the first inning give the Wolverines 15 for the season in the first frame, which is the Wolverines' most productive inning through 19 games.
Jessica Merchant now has a team-best six multi-RBI games after her two-run single in the fourth.
Michigan's 12 hits matched their second-best team total of the season. The Wolverines totaled 13 hits in a 5-0 win over Eastern Michigan on Feb. 21. Michigan's 12 hits is its highest total this season for a five-inning game.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Motycka, Nicole (7-3)
L: MCCOY, Meghan (3-3)
Batting:
3B: Worthy, Tiffany 1
RBI: Holland, Lauren 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 2 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 2 ; Schock, Monica 2 ; Motycka, Nicole 1 ; Betley, Courtney 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1
SH: Doe, Meghan 3 ; Merchant, Jessica 1
SF: Schock, Monica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haas, Tiffany 2 ; Holland, Lauren 1 ; Doe, Meghan 1 ; Winter, Stephanie 1 ; Merchant, Jessica 2 ; Olds, Jennifer 1 ; Bercaw, Stephanie 1 ; Milian, Rebekah 1 ; Worthy, Tiffany 1 ; Leutele, Grace 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BERZOFSKY, Sara 1
