Findlay Grand Slam, Solid Pitching Lead to U-M Sweep

Tuesday, April 3

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

27-6

Western Michigan

9-10

Western Michigan

Michigan

4/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Scores: #10 Michigan 5, Western Michigan 2; #10 Michigan 7, Western Michigan 0
Records: U-M (28-6), WMU (9-11)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Apr. 6 -- vs. Minnesota (Alumni Field), 4:00 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Highlighted by freshman Angela Findlay's (Lockport, Ill./East HS) walk-off grand slam, the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan softball team earned a doubleheader sweep against intrastate rival Western Michigan, 5-2 and 7-0, in the home opener on Friday (April 3) in front of 511 fans at Alumni Field.

The Wolverines trailed by one in the bottom of the seventh inning of the opening game with the bases loaded and two outs when Findlay stepped to the plate. The inning had been kept alive as a result of a WMU error, allowing senior Rebekah Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) to reach first, and advancing junior Alessandra Giampaolo (Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) and junior Michelle Weatherdon (Marquette, Mich./Marquette HS). Behind in the count at 2-2, Findlay got ahold of low pitch, driving it over the centerfield fence to claim her fourth home run of the season -- and second in as many games.

Senior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) stood just one out shy of a no-hitter in the top of the seventh in game one, retiring 16 straight batters before giving up a single to leftfield. In the subsequent at-bat, Western Michigan's Becky Bartocz sent a two-run shot to centerfield to give the Broncos what would be a short-lived advantage. Wilson threw 13 strikeouts in the complete-game performance and improved her record to 16-3.

Both teams' pitchers prevented serious scoring threats until the fifth inning when Michigan broke out with three hits and a run to claim the initial advantage. After a fast out, freshman Molly Bausher (Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) ripped a single up the middle and quickly advantage to second with her fifth stolen base of the season. Giampaolo drove her home in the next at-bat, sending an RBI double through the left center gap.

In the nightcap, the Wolverines used a balanced combination of hot bats and dominant pitching to secure their 11th shutout of the season. Freshman Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) and sophomore Stacy Delaney (Freeland, Mich./Freeland HS) shared time in the circle, combining for a season-best 17 strikeouts -- nine for Nemitz, eight for Delaney -- while allowing just a hit apiece.

Home runs accounted for four of Michigan's second-game runs as senior Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif./Lutheran HS) and Giampaolo sent a pair over the fence in the middle frames. Worthy's shot -- her second of the season -- came in the midst of five-run third inning and succeeded an RBI double by junior Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), who also came around to score unearned on a throwing error. With two on, Worthy drove a long ball into the pine trees beyond left center to cushion the U-M advantage.

Giampaolo's home run, which led off the next inning, was her first of the season and rounded out the Wolverines' scoring for the contest, leaving them one tally shy of run-rule criteria. The U-M junior, who went 4-for-5 on the day with a pair of RBI, drove the deep ball over the centerfield fence.

The game-winning tally, however, happened much earlier in the contest when sophomore Teddi Ewing (Olathe, Kan./East HS) came around to score from second base on an RBI single from freshman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS). Ewing had reached on a fielder's choice and quickly stole second to place herself in scoring position.

The Wolverines will return to Alumni Field on Friday (April 6) for a Big Ten Conference duel against Penn State at 4 p.m.

Contact: Leah Howard (734)763-4423