Michigan Takes Two in Twinbill with Western Michigan

Tuesday, May 4

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

47-9

Western Michigan

26-22

Western Michigan

Michigan

5/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Scores: #6 Michigan 10, Western Michigan 4; #6 Michigan 6, Western Michigan 1
Records: U-M (48-9), WMU (26-23)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, May 8 -- DH vs. Florida State (Alumni Field), 4:00 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The sixth-ranked University of Michigan softball team took a pair of victories (10-4, 6-1) from Western Michigan this evening (Tuesday, May 4) at Alumni Field in the first of two non-conference doubleheaders at home this week.

Sophomore Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) took the mound in game one for the Wolverines (48-9) and pitched four scoreless innings to earn her 21st victory of the season. Ritter gave up just two hits while striking out four. Junior Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) was the hurler for game two and pitched a complete game for her 19th win of the season. Motycka allowed just one run (unearned) while giving up four hits and striking out 10 for her second double-digit strikeout performance of the season.

The Wolverines had a quality day offensively, peppering 16 hits throughout both games. Sophomore Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS) stroked a monster home run to left-center in game two, and the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week continued her good performance, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored for both games.

The first game started well for the Wolverines as they took a 5-0 lead after one inning of play. The five runs crossed the plate on one hit, three walks and three Bronco errors. Senior catcher Monica Schock (Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS) stroked the only hit of the rally, firing a double down the rightfield line to bring in two runs.

After holding Western Michigan to just one hit for the next three innings, U-M added to its lead. The Wolverines put together a three-run rally with the help of four hits and a sacrifice. Haas, Meghan Doe (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino HS) and Motycka strung together three straight hits to lead off the inning before a sacrifice fly by Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) and a two-run double from Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS) gave Michigan an 8-0 lead after four.

After four scoreless innings from starter Jennie Ritter, senior Meghan Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) came on in relief of her sister. The reliever was good for three innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.

U-M went on to tally two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings, including Haas' round-tripper in the fifth, for a 10-4 Michigan victory.

The Broncos put the first run on the board in game two, tallying one run in the second on two hits and a hit batsman. The Wolverines responded in the bottom half of the frame, putting up a five-spot care of five hits including RBI singles from Courtney Betley (Corona, Calif./Santa Ana Mater Dei HS) and Haas.

The Wolverines put another run on the board in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to left-center from Merchant for a 6-1 lead. Motycka coasted the Wolverines through the rest of the contest, holding the Broncos to just one hit while striking out six over the final five innings.

U-M will next host the No. 2-ranked Florida State Seminoles in a doubleheader on Saturday (May 8). The twinbill will begin at 4 p.m. at Alumni Field.

N O T E S

Nicole Motycka's 10-strikeout performance in game two was the second-highest total of her career. The junior struck out 13 batters in a 3-1 win at Iowa on April 18.

Michigan improved to 16-1 at home this season, having outscored its opponents 89-16 in those games.

Grace Leutele collected one hit in each game of the twinbill to up her career-best hitting streak to seven games. The third baseman has hit safely in 14 of her last 17 games.

Meghan Doe's triple in game two is the first of her career and came in her 712th career at-bat.

Jessica Merchant drove in a pair of runs this evening, giving her 48 for the season, which is the sixth-best single-season total in school history. The all-time Michigan leader for RBI in a season is Kelly Kovach (1992-95) with 61 in 1995.

Meghan Doe stole her 20th base of the season tonight, which is tied for the third-best single-season total at Michigan.

Tiffany Haas has hit safely in seven of her last eight game, with four multi-hit games. She has 15 multi-hit games for the season, which is the team's second-best total behind Meghan Doe's 18.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423