Notes and Quotes: #13 Michigan 5, #20 Oklahoma 2
5/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
• Senior pitcher Jennie Ritter bettered her own U-M single-game strikeout record, tallying 19 K's in the win over Oklahoma. Ritter fanned 18 batters early this season against Central Michigan to break by one the record previously set by Michelle Bolster vs. Oklahoma on March 25, 1988.
• With the 30th dinger of her collegiate career senior Grace Leutele took sole possession of second place on U-M's all-time home runs list, becoming just the second Wolverine in program history to hit 30 or more home runs.
• Senior Jennie Ritter's postseason shutout streak was snapped at 46.1 innings, dating back to the 2005 Women's College World Series. Ritter struck out 76 batters during that streak. Ritter has allowed just two runs in six postseason games this season, posting a perfect 6-0 record.
• Senior Grace Leutele recorded her ninth game-winning hit of the season -- the most of any Wolverine in 2006.
• Senior Stephanie Bercaw played in her 200th collegiate game, going 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Junior Rebekah Milian made her 150th start, batting 2-for-4 with an RBI and a career-best two stolen bases.
• Michigan advances to the Super Regional to take on Tennessee in Knoxville, beginning Friday (May 26) with the championship to be decided on Saturday (May 27).
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On her team's performance against Oklahoma ... "I'm so proud of my group, and it was just an outstanding effort to beat Oklahoma twice. It took all of our heart and guts and we had to out-heart and out-gut them. They're as good a team as we played all year, both offensively and defensively, and I think Patty Gasso is just one of the best coaches out there. It took all we had to beat them and we had to hang in there. When your back's up against the wall like it was and we got this win, I give my kids all the credit in the world. They've been in this position before and they were determined and they put in the heart and I'll take heart any day."
On Jennie Ritter's pitching ... "Jennie Ritter's been the most consistent performer on our team all year. We rely on Jennie Ritter and it's a lot to carry. She's been an outstanding competitor, and when she's on the mound we have a chance to win. Today she had moments when her pitches weren't working but she had the guts and heart."
On playing on both sides of the ball during the WCWS ... "There is no way anybody is going to get to the World Series without having heart. That's just the way it is. Our offense is going to have to step up because Ritter can only hold us so much."
U-M Senior Third Baseman Grace Leutele
On her game-winning home run in the eighth inning ... "I didn't think the ball was out when I hit it. I said, 'Hit it as hard as I can and run my butt off.' I think we can hit the ball well at the end of the season because we know it's crunch time."
On the team's hitting in postseason play ... "I think the slump in hitting is something we try and look past and now that we're hitting, we don't look back, we just look ahead. There are moments when we feel that the entire team is together and we're playing as one."
U-M Senior Pitcher Jennie Ritter
On whether or not she got rattled against Oklahoma's bats ... "I wish I said that I didn't get rattled but I did because they're all great hitters and they rally together very well. I just had to bear down and I knew that my defense was behind me. I wasn't flustered that I gave up two runs, I was more flustered that they started rallying."
U-M Sophomore Centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo
On the team's hitting in postseason play ... "I don't know why we're hitting better now but we've just got a spirit to our team that is going through our bats. There are moments when we feel that the entire team is together and we're playing as one. That's what we did today. Back when we knew we weren't going to be the Big Ten regular-season champs, we went out against Michigan State and just gave it our all. We knew we could do that, we did that, and we've been together ever since."
Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso
On the play of her team ... "This is a hard way to go out, especially when you have a team that you love working with. D.J. (Mathis) threw her heart out and our team played their hearts out because they knew that they wanted to continue on in the tournament. We scored, and we were excited about that. We changed some things; we went to the slap and tried to make things happen. You could feel the intensity on that field between both teams going back and forth. Both have championship experience, so it came down to who had more, who could take advantage of what they were given. (Jennie) Ritter, again, was outstanding. She's one of the best we've faced all season without question. But we gave it everything we had."
OU Centerfielder Kristin Vesely
On the development of her team throughout the season ... "We started out very young and inexperienced. But throughout the year, it was good to see the younger players, and even some of the older ones that didn't have much experience, develop and play championship quality softball. I think that even with Nicole (Denes) and I leaving, this team is in very good hands. They have very good talent and just have to keep finding ways to win. The juniors will do a great job of stepping up as leaders and if everyone follows them then this team will be right back in the World Series."
OU Pitcher D.J. Mathis
On her expectations for next season ... "We have a lot of momentum going into next season. From the way we started this season until now, a lot of our freshmen and sophomores have really gotten a lot of experience and we've really developed as a team. There won't be anything but good things next year."
