2007 SFB vs. Louisville -- Notes & Quotes
5/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
The Wolverines have advanced to the final game of the NCAA Regional in each of the last eight seasons.
With today's win, Michigan improved its record in the all-time series against Louisville to a perfect 8-0.
Senior Tiffany Worthy set a new career-high with today's home run -- her sixth of the season. Worthy has registered new personal standards in every offensive category this year, including hits (45), runs (14) and RBI (34).
Senior Lorilyn Wilson earned her 64th career victory, moving into the eighth spot on Michigan's all-time wins list, where she is tied with Andrea Nelson (1988-91) and Marie Barda (1998-2001). Wilson needs just one more win to climb to the seventh position, currently held by All-American Vicki Morri (65, 1984-87).
Wilson fanned nine Cardinal batters in today's contest to surpass 700 career strikeouts. She ranks third on the Wolverines' all-time strikeout list with 701.
After going hitless in yesterday's contest against Eastern Michigan, freshman Angela Findlay batted 2-for-4 at the plate vs. Louisville to maintain her hitting consistency. Findlay has not gone hitless in back-to-back games since late February.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement "It was going to take a great effort on our part to beat that Louisville team. They're playing great softball. They're playing with a lot of confidence. I thought our kids came out (well), especially after falling behind in the first inning, and battled back. I thought probably the biggest play of the game was Tiffany Worthy leading off the second inning with a base hit. We just responded right away and played a little small ball and made some things happen. Our pitching held them and they're a great hitting team. I didn't think we were going to escape unscathed without giving up any runs. It was a full team effort. I thought Nikki Nemitz came in and did a great job. We're very pleased to be in the winner's bracket -- that's the place you want to be in this tournament. I just got done telling my team that this tournament is not over. Just like a game is seven innings, the tournament is not over. We're in the position we want to be in, but we're going to have to come in and play good softball tomorrow."
On getting more runners on base today and then driving them home "The goal is to put the ball in play and we've been swinging a little tight. Really the key is putting pressure on the pitcher every inning, whether you score or not. The ability to put the bat on the ball puts the momentum in your favor a little bit. Then Tiffany came up with a big cut there (in the fifth inning). The key to the game was our ability to scatter around some hits and keep the momentum on our side."
On where the team's level of confidence stands at this point "I think this team is confident and I think they know they have their work cut out for them. I like a team that's ready to come to work and battle. I thought they had great battle today and that's all you can ask for and all I want from them."
On the contributions made by the freshmen this season "I think the freshmen have been a crucial part of our team the entire season. We have a bunch of them and they're all over. We need them and everyone on the team. I thought one of the best things that happened today was when we were watching Lorilyn in the fifth inning and Angie Danis said, 'Hey Hutch, I think she's rushing her pitches a little bit.' We slowed her down and she got out of that inning. Everybody is engaged. We need everybody on this team to help us win whether you're a freshman or an old coach."
U-M Senior Catcher Tiffany Worthy
On her three-run home run in the fifth inning . "I think that I was just focused on seeing the ball and hitting the ball. I wasn't trying to hit a homerun, obviously. I was trying to get a good hard hit and have a good at-bat. Whatever the final outcome was is just the result of watching the ball."
On if a change of focus is the reason she has been so successful in her career during the postseason "The focus is definitely there. I'm just determined not to get beat -- I dont' want to get beat. Im trying not to make it any different. I'm just trying to keep the same approach and let things work."
U-M Freshman Pitcher Nikki Nemitz
On entering the game with the bases loaded in sixth inning "I just wanted to do my part and try to hold them down and stop their offensive threat. I thought Lorilyn did an awesome job, so I just wanted to come in and help my team win."
On if Louisville's 8-0 win over Oregon State last night changed the team's preparation "I dont think our focus changed seeing (Louisville) win last night. I think our focus was to come out and attack whoever we were playing, Louisville or Oregon State. We wanted to come out, play our game and be tough."
Louisville Head Coach Sandy Pearsall
Opening statement ... "It's certainly a disappointment to us. We definitely wanted to come out on top in this game. I have to take my hat off to Michigan; they came out swinging the bat extremely well. They certainly attacked our pitching and played great defense."
On Louisville's offensive threat in the sixth inning "(U-M pitcher Lorilyn Wilson) is very strong early on, which makes it difficult to get on track. What you have to do is just keep attacking her. She seems to struggle a little bit later on in the game. She definitely started to struggle there at the end and we tried to keep attacking her."
On how today's game compared to the 2-0 loss to U-M in late March They hit the ball earlier. (Wilson) pitched an excellent game against us earlier in the year. (Michigan) has built a little more confidence in their offense. They seem to be swinging the bat a little better maybe than earlier in the year when we faced them."
On having to fight through the loser's bracket now in order to advance "I know this team will come back. This is a disappointment to us, but it's not a situation where we're ready to lie over and die yet. This team will come back and fight. I have a lot of seniors who have taken us a long way in their careers here. They're not ready to end their careers yet. They want to see if they can win it all here and then get to the Super Regional."
On the pitching performance by U-M's Lorilyn Wilson "I think she's extremely capable of carrying that team. She has the pitches and if you sit back there and you watch her she has great movement. She definitely can do it. I think I have a very good hitting team and they struggled with her. Honestly, she is a kid who can take them a long way if she can stay focused through a game and I think she will. She seems to be hungry this weekend to get them to the Super Regional."
On U-M's homerun by Tiffany Worthy in the fifth inning "She hit the ball very well. That wasn't a bad pitch by any means. She made a great adjustment. She just put her head down and drove the bat through. It wasn't exactly high up in the zone -- it was an inside screwball and she went and got it."
UL Designated Player Kassie Stanfill
On her fifth-inning home run "I just came out ready to fight. (Lorilyn Wilson) was an awesome pitcher. She came out and threw her game. It just happened that I hit it."
On the hitting adjustments from U-M starter Lorilyn Wilson to reliever Nikki Nemitz "(Nemitz) was quicker than the first pitcher. You just have to go up there as a batter, swing and give it all you can."
