Sixth-Inning Heroics Propel Wolverines to Wins at FAU

Friday, February 16

Boca Raton, Fla.

9:00 AM

Michigan

East Carolina

Michigan

East Carolina

Sixth-Inning Heroics Propel Wolverines to Wins at FAU

2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Softball Stadium)
Event: FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic
Scores: #14 Michigan 3, East Carolina 1; #14 Michigan 6, Maryland 1
Records: U-M (6-1), ECU (3-2), Maryland (0-1)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 17 -- vs. St. John's at FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic (Boca Raton, Fla.), 4 p.m.

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Late-inning heroics propelled the No. 14-ranked University of Michigan softball team to a 2-0 start at the FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic with victories over East Carolina (3-1) and Maryland (6-1) on Friday morning (Feb. 16) at FAU Softball Stadium. After struggling offensively during early innings, the Wolverines used the sixth frame of each contest to take control, earning a combined eight runs on seven hits.

Junior Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) paced the Maize and Blue at the plate, going 3-for-7 with two runs and a pair of RBI. Freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) recorded her first collegiate home run -- a two-run shot against Maryland -- while sophomore Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) tallied a hit in each contest, extending her streak to seven games with a single and a double.

Freshman Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) and senior Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) registered consecutive complete-game performances from the U-M pitching circle. Nemitz earned her best collegiate performance to date, fanning six batters in a one-hitter against Maryland, while Wilson recorded three strikeouts in the earlier slate against East Carolina.

Michigan had held a narrow one-run advantage through much of the Maryland contest after Ewing scored in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out fielder's choice by Giampaolo, but with a Terp solo home run in the top of the sixth, the score locked up at one run apiece late in the game.

The Wolverines, however, exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning on the strength of three extra-base hits. Maryland pitcher Stacey Jennings found herself in an immediate jam after a walk and a wild pitch to put a runner on second base with no outs. The Terps earned their first out, but in the subsequent at-bat Ewing doubled to right-center to score junior pinch runner Michelle Weatherdon (Marquette, Mich./Marquette HS) from second for the eventual game-winning run. Findlay quickly tacked another pair of runs to the Wolverines' cushion, clearing the bases with a bomb to centerfield. Freshman Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) kept the Michigan flurry going with a single up the middle and was immediately sent home by Giampaolo, who tagged her second triple of the season to leftfield. A pitching change resulted in the final two outs for the Terps but not before Giampaolo scored on a fielding error at shortstop.

In the day's first contest, the Wolverines needed time to solve East Carolina pitcher Keli Harrell, who rung up all but one of her 12 total strikeouts in the opening five frames. While the Pirate ace stifled the U-M offense, her team took the first lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the third. Wilson gave up her only walk of the contest to ECU's Cristen Aona to open the inning, and in the next at-bat centerfielder Vanessa Moreno knocked a double to right-center to score her teammate from first base.

U-M could not convert on its first scoring threat of the contest, failing to advance junior Samantha Findlay (Lock Port, Ill./East HS) from third base in the top of the fourth. But in their next turn at the plate the Wolverines found their bats and, in the midst of a wild inning, manufactured three runs on three hits to steal away the team lead for good.

Giampaolo keyed the U-M rally, leading off the inning with a walk before making her way around the bases and eventually tying the score on a Harrell error -- a misplay on a sacrifice bunt from senior Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS). Freshman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) singled throught the right side to score Samantha Findlay for the winning run, and, with Viefhaus charging to second base, Worthy stole home to wrap up the Wolverines' scoring.

Michigan continues action in the FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic on Saturday (Feb. 17) with games slated against St. John's at 4 p.m. and host Florida Atlantic at 8 p.m.