Michigan Sweeps Day One at NFCA Classic

Friday, February 29

Columbus, Ga.

1:30 PM

Michigan

13-2

Mississippi State

14-3

Michigan

Mississippi State

2/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Stadium and Complex)
Score: #12 Michigan 2, Mississippi State 0; #12 Michigan 9, UC Santa Barbara 1 (6 inn.)
Records: U-M (14-2), Mississippi State (14-3), UC Santa Barbara (7-8)
Next U-M Events: Saturday, March 1 -- vs. North Carolina State (4 p.m.), Winthrop (6:30 p.m.) at NFCA Leadoff (Columbus, Ga.)

Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan softball team kicked off its appearance at the annual NFCA Leadoff Classic with a pair of wins, defeating Mississippi State (2-0) and UC Santa Barbara (9-1, six innings) Friday (Feb. 29) at the South Commons Stadium and Complex.

Sophomore Molly Bausher(Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS) tallied a pair of hits in each contest, batting 4-for-8 for the day with two runs batted in to headline the Wolverines' (14-2) performance at the plate. Freshman Dorian Shaw(Burke, Va./Robinson SS) and sophomore Roya St. Clair(Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) each homered against the Gauchos, while sophomore Angela Findlay(Lockport, Ill./East HS) hit the game-winning RBI triple -- the second of her career -- in the third inning of the nightcap.

Sophomore ace Nikki Nemitz(St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) gave up three hits but no runs against Mississippi State to extend her streak to 19 consecutive shutout innings, fanning six Bulldog batters en route to the complete-game victory. Freshman Jordan Taylor(Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) improved her season record to 8-1 with a six-hit, one-run performance against UCSB. Taylor also struck out six and retired six straight to close out her seventh win in a row.

The first contest proved a largely defensive effort as both teams combined for just six hits through the opening six frames. The Wolverines, who had base runners stranded in four previous innings, opened up the game with a pair of runs off of a pair of hits in the top of the seventh. After a leadoff walk to Nemitz, Bulldog pitcher Misty Fletcher earned back-to-back outs on a sacrifice bunt -- which advanced Nemitz to second -- and a strikeout. Junior Teddi Ewing(Olathe, Kan./East HS) brought in the game-winning run on a base hit to centerfield and, after stealing second and third base, came home herself on Bausher's subsequent infield single to the shortstop.

After giving up the initial one-run advantage on a pair of third-inning doubles, the Wolverines responded quickly in the home half of the frame, scoring two runs to take their first and final lead. St. Clair led off the inning with a solo home run -- the second shot of her career -- before Angela Findlay ripped her game-winning triple.

Michigan spread seven additional runs over the fourth and sixth innings, posting five in the latter to bring a premature end of the game. The Wolverines' two fourth-inning tallies came on Shaw second-career home run, which immediately followed a walk to Nemitz.

U-M benefited from four more walks and a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth, while St. Clair, Bausher and senior Alessandra Giampaolo(Pasadena, Calif./Polytechnic HS) all recorded RBI singles to give Michigan its necessary eight-run cushion.

Michigan will continue play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic Saturday (March 1) with games against North Carolina State (4 p.m.) and Withrop (6:30 p.m.). Each game will be held at the South Commons Stadium and Complex.

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423