Michigan Shakes Off Canisius in NCAA Regional Opener

Thursday, May 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:30 PM

Michigan

51-10

Canisius

23-29

Canisius

Michigan

5/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Event: NCAA Regional Championship
Score: #6 Michigan 6, Canisius 3
Records: U-M (51-10), Canisius (23-29)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 21 -- vs. Notre Dame at NCAA Regional Championship (Alumni Field), 3 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The sixth-ranked University of Michigan softball team took a first-round victory at the 2004 NCAA Softball Regional 6 Tournament, downing Canisius 6-3 Thursday (May 20) at Alumni Field. The Wolverines (51-10), the regional's top seed, found themselves in a hole late in the contest but scored six runs in the fifth inning to top the No. 8-seeded Golden Griffins and move to the winners bracket semifinals.

Sophomore Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) took the mound for the Maize and Blue, going the distance for her 19th complete game of the season. She gave up three runs on five hits along with eight strikeouts for her 23rd win of the season and the first postseason victory of her career.

On the offensive side, Michigan used the long ball to take the victory. Senior Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) kicked things off for the Wolverines, shooting a monster solo shot to straightaway centerfield to lead off the fifth. She ended the contest 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) also had a quality game for Michigan, going 2-for-4 including a home run, three RBI and one run scored.

After four innings of scoreless ball, it looked as though the contest would be a pitchers' duel. Then in the top of the fifth, the Wolverines found themselves in a 1-0 hole after a leadoff home run from Canisius' Tempie Coelho-Freeman gave the Golden Griffins the advantage. Michigan turned it up in the bottom half of the frame, however, going on a six-run, six-hit tear.

After the leadoff home run from Schock, singles from Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) and Angie Churchill (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) put two on for Haas, who drilled a three-run shot to left-center for a 4-1 lead. Jennifer Olds (North Palm Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS) rounded out the inning with a two-RBI double for a 6-1 Michigan lead.

Ritter gave up two runs in the top of the sixth on Beth Enk's two-run homer but retired the last six batters she faced, three via strikeouts.

Michigan will face No. 4 seed and 24th-ranked Notre Dame (49-18), an 8-6 winner over DePaul, on Friday (May 21). First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Alumni Field.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423