Softball Opens Classic With Win Over No. 12 Huskies

Thursday, March 15

Fullerton, Calif.

1:30 PM PT

Michigan

21-1

Washington

18-6

Michigan

Washington

3/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. C The ninth-ranked University of Michigan softball team opened the 2007 Judy Garman Classic with a 6-3 victory over No. 12-ranked Washington Thursday (March 15) at the Titan Softball Complex. The win extends the Wolverines unbeaten streak to 17 games.

Freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) led the charge with timely hits to set new career highs in runs scored (2) and RBI (2). Freshman Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley) also contributed a career day at the plate with two hits. Junior Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) added her team leading ninth multi-hit game, pounding three singles on the day to extend her hit-streak to a season-high nine games.

Senior Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) allowed three hits while she struck out nine to improve to 12-1 on the season. Freshman Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) came on in relief to earn her first career save, clicking off a pair of strike outs in an inning-and-a-third of work.

The Huskies struck first in the bottom of the first inning, jumping to a 2-0 lead. Ashley Charters opened the inning with a single to set up Dominique Lastrapes opposite field home run.

Michigan responded quickly with three runs in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead -- one U-M would never relinquish. Huskies pitcher Caitlin Noble issued free passes to the first two batters of the inning to put the Wolverines in scoring position. Findlay drove a single into the left field corner to score pinch runner Michelle Weatherdon (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) from second base. Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./Olathe East) also came into score on the play, as Washington left fielder Marnie Koziol couldnt handle the ball, yielding the second run. Findlay, who moved to second off the error, came into score with the benefit of another error on the next play.

Wilson settled in, striking out six batters and holding the Huskies off the board for the next four innings. The Wolverines expanded their lead to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Findlay once again came up with a timely hit, driving in Allison Kidman (Tarpon Springs, Fla./Countryside) from second base. Kidman reached on the Wolverines only extra base hit of the game. Two batters later, Giampaolo used one of her three singles to bring Findlay home.

Washington made a comeback attempt with aggressive base running in the home-half of the sixth inning, but the Huskies could only push across one run as they continued to trail 5-3. Charters walked to open the inning and -- after stealing second base -- came around to score on two wild pitches. After a pop out and a hit batter, Nemitz came in to shut down the threat, striking out the last batter of both the sixth and seventh frames.

Michigan capped off the scoring with a seventh inning run off the bat of Ewing. Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) singled and moved into scoring position on a Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) sacrifice bunt that handcuffed the Huskies defense. Ewing singled through the infield to push Findlay across and place the Wolverine lead to 6-3.

The Wolverines continue with pool play in the Judy Garman Classic Friday (March 16) with games against No. 24 Florida State (9 a.m. PDT) and Cal State-Northridge (11:15 a.m. PDT). Both contests will be held at the Titan Softball Complex in Fullerton, Calif.

N O T E S

Senior Lorilyn Wilson earned her 52nd career victory, good enough for tenth place on the U-M all-time list.
With the win, Michigan tied its all-time series with Washington, 7-7.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423