Motycka Saves Game in Circle, at Plate to Defeat Illinois

Friday, April 16

Champaign, Ill.

6:00 PM CT

Michigan

36-6, 9-0

Illinois

28-15-1, 6-3

Michigan

Illinois

Motycka Saves Game in Circle, at Plate to Defeat Illinois

4/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan softball team had its eight-game shutout streak snapped this evening (Friday, April 16), but that's just fine with the Wolverines after pulling out a dramatic, come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Illinois at Eichelberger Field. The Wolverines ran their win streak to 19 games and remain perfect in Big Ten Conference action at 9-0.

Junior hurler Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) came up huge in the circle and at the plate, driving in all Michigan's first three runs, including a huge two-out, two-run home run in the top of the sixth to erase a 2-1 Michigan deficit. Getting the start as the designated player, Motycka came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the fifth to relieve starter Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) and tossed the final 2.2 innings of scoreless ball for the win.

After both teams failed to mount a legitimate threat through the first three frames, Michigan broke through in the fourth with the middle of the order doing the damage. Cleanup hitter Jennifer Olds (North Palm Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS) connected for a one-out single and moved to second when Big Ten home run leader Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) was hit by a pitch for the second straight at-bat. Motycka responded with a double down the leftfield line to score a run. With runners on second and third and just one down, Michigan did not cash in on an opportunity to put more distance between itself and the home team.

For the last eight games, that one run would have been enough, and it appeared it might be again after Ritter set down the side in order in the bottom of the fourth. However, Illinois was able to do what had eluded the last eight Michigan opponents over 59.2 innings and push a run across the plate against the Wolverines. A one-out bunt single preceded consecutive doubles off Ritter and put the Fighting Illini up 2-1, forcing coach Carol Hutchins to call Motycka out of the bullpen.

Motycka closed out the threat and then delivered one of the biggest hits of the season for the Wolverines, connecting for a two-out, two-run long ball in the sixth. Illinois opened the door when its shortstop committed the game's only error, on a ground ball from Olds, and Motycka made it hurt with her fifth home run of the season. Just as Motycka followed Merchant's record-breaking shot on Wednesday with one of her own, Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) followed Motycka's lead with a solo shot of her own and a huge insurance run.

Illinois did threaten in the sixth by putting a pair of runner aboard, but Merchant came up with back-to-back plays from shortsop and Motycka retired the side in order in the seventh for the win.

The Wolverines look to make it 20 straight tomorrow when they conclude their two-game set at Illinois with a single game at noon CDT.

N O T E S

Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) went 1-4 to extend her current hit streak to eight games, which matches the team high this season set by Jennifer Olds.

After not connecting for a home run in her first 76 at-bats this season, Nicole Motycka has hit five in her last 26 ABs beginning with her school-record three-homer effort against Purdue on April 4.

The first Illinois run of the evening was the first given up by a Michigan pitcher in 59.2 innings. The last run scored against the Wolverines staff came in the seventh inning of a 4-1 Michigan win over Indiana on April 3.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423