2007 SFB vs. Oregon State -- Notes & Quotes
5/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
With their perfect 3-0 performance over the weekend competition, the Wolverines claimed their 11th NCAA Regional title in program history and their fourth in a row. All but one of those regional crowns were won at Alumni Field.
Michigan will make its third straight appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals -- each year since its 2005 inception.
With its victory in the NCAA Regional championship game, Michigan improved to 7-1 in the all-time series against Oregon State. Prior to today's meeting, the last time the two squads faced each other was the 2004 NCAA Regional in Ann Arbor. U-M won two of three games to earn a spot in the Women's College World Series.
The Wolverines have scored nearly 20 percent (51/257) of its runs this season in the first inning. With its five-run production in today's opening frame, U-M matched its greatest single-inning run total of the season.
Freshman third baseman Maggie Viefhaus' first-inning grand slam was the third of its kind for the Wolverines this season. She is just the fifth U-M rookie to record a grand slam in program history and the second to achieve the feat this season, joining freshman rightfielder Angela Findlay.
Viefhaus paced the Wolverines' offensive efforts over the entire NCAA Regional weekend, batting .545 (6-for-11) with two home runs and six RBI. Senior catcher Tiffany Worthy also recorded a pair of home runs and five RBI over the weekend. Senior ace Lorilyn Wilson put together a dominant performance from the pitching circle, boasting a perfect 3-0 record with two complete-game shutouts and 26 strikeouts while giving up just six total hits.
Wilson claimed her 65th career win with her decision today and moved into the seventh position among Michigan's all-time win leaders, tied with All-American Vicki Morrow (1984-87). She needs just one more victory to climb into the sixth spot, currently held by another All-American, Nicole Motycka (66, 2001-05).
Tallying her 32nd career shutout with today's 7-0 result, Wilson is just one shutout shy of Michigan's top-five all-time leaders in the category. All-American Kelly Kovach (1992-95) currently holds that fifth spot with 33.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening Statement ... "I thought my team played just outstanding softball all weekend, and we were led by Lorilyn Wilson who just pitched lights out. Today was her best effort. It takes your best effort to get through any tournament, and it's going to take another great effort next weekend. Oregon State has a great team. We talked about the difference between being the winner's bracket versus the loser's bracket -- the difference can be two extra games -- and that's a big difference when it comes down to pitching and keeping pitching fresh. I thought my team came out today. They were just excited about their opportunity, and it was the type of softball we like to see Michigan play. I thought we just stayed in our moment very well. When your pitcher is in her moment, it's very easy for the rest of the team to have confidence. I'm very proud of my group. It's been quite a season for us, and to have the regional championship is certainly the first step toward our ultimate goal."
On Michigan's five-run first inning ... "I was just thinking that there was still a lot of ballgame left. It gives the opponents a chance to adjust to the fact that the're behind, and, no matter what -- my team will let you know -- I never see the positive. I always look for what could go wrong. But the thing is, we just maintained our composure. You have to stay composed when you're ahead just as much as when you're not. I thought that was what we did best today. Lorilyn's composure was excellent. She didn't allow them to get anything going, and I think that is the best game I have seen her pitch this year."
On taking advantage of OSU mistakes ... "Sometimes -- this is a funny game -- breaks just go your way. Their error certainly gives you another chance for an out. I'm not going to say it's always straight-up luck, but I thought we were hustling out there too. Sam (Findlay) hustling to second base in a close play ... if she's not hustling, she might be out on that play. Our kids came to play. They went after it. They played the kind of softball that I want to see them continue to play."
On the U-M offensive production ... "I thought we came out slugging. As the game went on, I thought our swings didn't look as good. We seemed a little anxious, and we did seem to lose our focus a little bit. Hitting is often contagious, and we caught it early in the game. I was most pleased that we continued to chip away in there, picking up a couple more runs. Our best opportunity was with bases loaded, nobody out, and we weren't able to capitalize on that. I thought we got a little tight at that point, so I would like to see us stay in our moment and continue to just stay focused. Our defense, again, was the key to the game."
On Lorilyn Wilson's weekend performance ... "I think, without a doubt, to get through a regional tournament and to get the Super Regional, you've got to have a go-to pitcher, and that was Lorilyn for us this weekend."
On the upcoming series vs. Baylor ... "I don't look ahead, so I dont know that much. I do know that they're the Big 12 Champion through the regular season. I know they have one of if not the finest facilities in the country, so I'm very excited to take my administration there to see it. I know that we're going to have to play great softball. They're a good softball team -- a very good softball team. There are 16 teams left in the country, and we're one of them. I'm very proud of that. I told our kids, 'You're going to really have to want to keep playing to get to keep playing. You show up and play great softball and you're going to have a good chance.' We'll take a good look at Baylor this week.
On the ups and downs of the season ... "There are ebbs and flows throughout the whole season. When we started off, I wouldn't say we were really hot, but we were young and the kids really enjoyed playing with each other. We won a lot of games. I think we were 23-1 at one point. After we lost a couple games, we got a little up and down for a while and a little inconsistent. Going into the season with so many young people and so many untested people; as a coach, I knew that would probably happen. We went up to Michigan State and lost, and I was very concerned at that point that we didn't want to play anymore. Our kids turned it around, and, even though we didnt win in the Big Ten Tournament, I thought we came to play. Of course we had to play a very tough opponent there in the second round. I think the kids rose to the challenge this weekend. They had an opportunity in front of them just like everybody here did. I said going in that the team that played the best was going to win. I think we played the best and, therefore, we're going to Waco."
On battling the inconsistency of the younger players ... "I think as a coach sometimes you try to do too much. You've got to allow the season to unfold and evolve. It definitely did unfold, and I think we've got it going pretty good right now so we're just going to leave it alone and just let them play. The game was in their hands all weekend. I didn't do one thing out there except cheer for them. Lorilyn (Wilson) had the ball, and she took care of it. Our hitters had the bats, and they took care of it. It's up to them, and it's within them. When they have confidence in themselves, they play the kind of softball they're capable of. They just need to know I support them, and I believe in them. I believe they can win it next weekend."
U-M Senior Pitcher Lorilyn Wilson
On having a five-run lead before she took the field ... "It was a lot of fun. It always helps a lot when our hitters were doing such a great job. It just made my job that much easier. Couple that with our team's great defensive plays when they put the ball in play, and I really wasn't worried at all."
On the significance of beating a team from her homestate ... "It's just another team in our way to the World Series. I know a lot of girls on the team. I've played with them; I was recruited with them. It was a repeat of our freshman year -- we played Oregon State in the regional championship game. I just thought it would be great to repeat that achievement, and that's we did."
On the ups and downs of the year ... "Every season has its ups and downs. We were in a down about a month ago, and now, we're back on the up. I would much rather be on a down in the earlier part of the season than right now in the postseason, so I am just glad that we're on the upswing again."
U-M Freshman Third Baseman Maggie Viefhaus
On the offense in the first inning ... "We were just trying to score runs, and we had to make her throw a strike. All of us did a really good job. She walked in the run right before my hit, and I was two balls, no strikes so she had to bring it again. I just put the good part of the bat on the ball. That was all I was trying to do."
On the grand-slam pitch ... "The first two pitches were low and outside. It seemed like she pitches a drop ball, so everything was pretty much down. I don't know if she made a mistake or if she was trying to throw a rise ball, but she caught me up and in and that was the pitch I hit. It felt good coming off the bat' I just kind of watched it after that."
Oregon State Head Coach Kirk Walker
On today's game ... "Obviously my hat is off to Michigan and Lorilyn (Wilson). They did a great job. They played well and came after it in the first inning on. We obviously spotted them too much in the first inning. We had a little too much to overcome with a great pitcher like Lorilyn on the mound. I think they will represent this region very well going into Super Regional, and I wish them the best of luck. Hopefully they make that College World Series. I am disappointed in a few of the things we did or didn't do today, but, once again, there is a lot of pressure and a lot of intense competition, and I think we never gave up. We just had a big hill to climb.
OSU Senior Shortstop Mia Longfellow
On the first-inning impact ... "This team, we've been known to come back. Yeah, we were down five runs, but we weren't done. Our mentality was that we were going to keep swinging the bat and get some runs on the board. Obviously, that didn't happen, but we never felt down."
On her career at Oregon State ... "It's a great experience. I get emotional talking about it, but I love this school. I love the girls I play for, and I love Kirk (Walker) and the coaches. For the girls coming into this program, it's something they're going to love and cherish for the rest of their lives."
