Michigan
30-12, 0
Penn State
31-11, 0
Ritter's Gem Salvages Doubleheader Split at Penn State
4/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion Field)
Scores: Penn State 4, #12 Michigan 2; #12 Michigan 1, Penn State 0
Records: U-M (31-12, 9-3 Big Ten), PSU (31-12, 6-8 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 28 -- vs. Illinois (Alumni Field), 6 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The 12th-ranked University of Michigan softball team rode a four-hit shutout from senior Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) in the second game of Sunday's (April 23) doubleheader at Penn State to salvage a split. The Wolverines fell 4-2 in the opener before bouncing back, 1-0, in the back end of the twinbill.
Ritter went the distance in game two, striking out nine en route to her 35th career shutout. Michigan got another inspired performance in the circle from freshman Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich./Freeland). Delaney came in from the bullpen in the third inning of game one and shut down the Nittnay Lions offense, not yielding a hit in 3.2 innings of work and striking out six.
Penn State used the third inning of the opener to quickly put the game out of reach for the visiting squad. Already owning a 1-0 lead, the Nittnay Lions reached base with their first five batters before junior Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague) could retire a batter. Leigh Murray followed up the first out with an RBI single to make the score 4-0 and chase Wilson from the game.
The Wolverines got on the board in the sixth to make the game 4-2, but that was all they would get. Senior Tiffany Haas (North Tustin, Calif/Foothill) opened the inning with a single before moving up two batters later on a Becky Marx (St. Joseph, Mich./Lakeshore) double. Sophomore Michelle Weatherdon (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) pinch ran for the senior catcher and moved up to third as Haas scored on a wild pitch from Penn State hurler Missy Beseres. Senior Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena) pushed Weatherdon across with a single to left-centerfield to close the first-game scoring.
Game two was a pitchers duel as both sides struck out nine batters. Ritter struck out a pair in each of the first two innings.
Michigan got the game's lone run in the fifth frame thanks to heads up baserunning from Weatherdon. Junior Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran) singled to centerfield to leadoff the inning for the Wolverines. Senior Stephanie Bercaw (Wooster, Ohio/Hillsdale) laid down a sacrifice to bump Weatherdon, who came in to run for Worthy, into scoring position. On the very next play, Penn State catcher Hollee Haines threw the ball away, allowing Weatherdon to move up to third. Weatherdon did not stop there, rounding the base and rolling home to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines return home for a two games against Big Ten foe Illinois at Alumni Field. Friday's (April 28) game is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. Saturday's (April 29) contest will begin at 1 p.m.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ritter, Jennie (19-5)
L: J. Reynolds (6-3)
Batting:
SH: Bercaw, Stephanie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Weatherdon, Michelle 1
SB: Haas, Tiffany 1
CS: Leutele, Grace 1
HBP: Haas, Tiffany 1
