Michigan
24-3
California
22-13
Findlay's Grand Slam Propels Wolverines Past California
3/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Junior Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) blasted her fourth career grand slam as the ninth-ranked University of Michigan softball team persevered through its opener at the Louisville Red and Black Classic, defeating 25th-ranked California 11-8 Friday (March 23) at Ulmer Stadium.
Samantha Findlay's fifth-inning drive was the third grand slam of her U-M career, scoring four of her five RBI in the Wolverines' win over California.
The team lead exchanged hands multiple times through the early frames and remained knotted at six runs a piece until the top of the fifth inning when Findlay -- with three on and two out -- sent a deep shot over the leftfield fence to give the Wolverines the final advantage. Findlay paced Michigan's effort at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and five RBI. Her sister, freshman Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), found similar success, batting 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
California struck first with three runs scored in each of the first two innings. The runs came in similar fashion -- a leadoff walk preceding RBI singles and doubles. The Wolverines, however, responded in kind by spreading six runs across the second and third frames.
Sophomore Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) kicked off the second inning with a double and quickly moved around the bases after a pair of Golden Bear mistakes -- a wild pitch by ace Lauren Frankiewicz and an error to centerfielder Erika Ranklin. Angela Findlay and fellow freshman Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) brought home runs in consecutive at-bats, as Findlay drilled a triple -- the first of her career -- to centerfield, and Bausher hit her first of two RBI singles.
Samantha Findlay led off the subsequent inning with another double -- this one to right center -- and came home in the next at-bat, as senior Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) drilled an RBI single up the middle. After another U-M single and a walk loaded the bases, Angela Findlay and Bausher repeated their feat from the preceding frame and brought in a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and bunt, respectively.
A California pitching change proved effective in the fourth but did little to prevent the Wolverines' four-run attack in the fifth. Relief pitcher Brittany LaRosa quickly loaded up the bases with an Angela Findlay single and a pair of walks. In the frame's fifth at-bat, Samantha Findlay cleared the bases with the game-winning grand slam; her third home run of the season.
Michigan added one more insurance tally in the top of the seventh frame -- a sacrifice fly by Samantha Findlay with one out and two on. The Wolverines again took advantage of California mistakes as senior Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) and junior Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) advanced on a shortstop error before Findlay's fly ball to centerfield scored Giampaolo from third base.
Freshman pitcher Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) entered the game in the third frame and threw four shutout innings before allowing a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Nemitz allowed five hits -- four coming in the final inning -- and struck out two en route to her 10th win of the season.
The Wolverines will return to action at the Louisville Red and Black Classic Saturday (March 24) with games against conference rival Northwestern (11 a.m.) and Liberty (3 p.m.). Both contests will be held at Ulmer Stadium.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nemitz, Nikki (10-1)
L: LaRosa (4-4)
Batting:
2B: Giampaolo, Alessandra 1 ; Findlay, Samantha 1 ; St. Clair, Roya 1 ; Ewing, Teddi 1
3B: Findlay, Angela 1
HR: Findlay, Samantha 1
RBI: Findlay, Samantha 5 ; Worthy, Tiffany 1 ; Findlay, Angela 2 ; Bausher, Molly 2
SF: Findlay, Samantha 1 ; Findlay, Angela 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Giampaolo, Alessandra 2 ; Milian, Rebekah 1 ; Findlay, Samantha 2 ; Weatherdon, Michelle 1 ; Ewing, Teddi 2 ; Viefhaus, Maggie 1 ; Findlay, Angela 2
SB: Bausher, Molly 2
Batting:
2B: Schallig 2
RBI: Racklin 1 ; Schallig 3 ; Masaniai 1 ; Vickers 1 ; Sevilla 1 ; Meyer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sutton 1 ; Racklin 2 ; Schallig 2 ; Houston 1 ; Masaniai 1 ; Siegel 1
SB: Racklin 1 ; Leomiti 1
HBP: Meyer 1
