Notes & Quotes: #6 Michigan 5, Kent State 0
5/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
With their perfect 3-0 performance over the weekend competition, the Wolverines claimed their 12th NCAA Regional title in program history and their fifth in a row. All but one of those regional crowns were won at Alumni Field.
Michigan has reached the NCAA Super Regionals each year since the format was adopted in 2005.
With its victory in the NCAA Regional championship game, Michigan improved to 5-0 in the all-time series against Kent State. Prior to today's meeting, the last time the two squads faced each other was during the 2000 season.
Freshman Dorian Shaw knocked out Michigan's ninth grand slam of the season with her bases-clearing shot in the sixth inning. It is the most slams in program history, trumping seven during the 2002 season. Adding three this weekend -- which matches last season's 60-game total -- U-M has hit six in NCAA Tournament play.
Freshman Jordan Taylor is just the fourth different U-M pitcher to reach 30 season wins in the history of the program. All-Americans Sara Griffin (1995-98) and Jennie Ritter (2003-06) both registered a pair of 30-win seasons in their careers, while Kelly Holmes (1994-97) achieved the feat during her senior campaign. Taylor ranks sixth on Michigan's single-season wins list, one shy of the fifth spot held by Ritter (31, 2006). Ritter also owns the top spot with 38 wins in 2005.
Earning her 14th shutout of the season -- and second in as many games -- Taylor also sits one shy of the fourth spot on Michigan's single-season shutout list, currently held by Sara Griffin (15, 1996). Vicki Morrow (1984-87) owns the record with 18 shutouts, which she tallied during her senior season.
With 11 strikeouts today, Taylor has 269 K's for the season to rank fifth among Michigan's single-season leaders in the category. She shares the spot with two-time All-American Jennie Ritter and needs 48 to reach the No. 4 position, currently held by Lorilyn Wilson (317, 2007).
Senior Samantha Findlay accepted two walks against Kent State to improve her season total to 37. Findlay, who owns the U-M career record in the category, owns four of the top six spots among U-M's list of single-season walks leaders.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement... "First of all, congrats to Kent State. They had a great year, and I thought they had a great team. I think Michigan has a great team, and today we came out and it was a tight game -- three hits total as it turns out. I thought our kids did what they were asked to do all week, which was to have a great approach, to stay in it and to not let anything get them down, and we found a way to win it. We took advantage of some walks, which I thought were good at-bats for us, and we finally got a big hit. Jordan Taylor gave us a chance to win. We are pretty excited to be going to the super regional, and we are even more excited to be hosting it. That being said, it is not going to get any easier. We will take a day to enjoy it, and we will be back at it on Tuesday."
On her team battling through close games... "I thought the best quality we had all weekend was our composure, and we played one-inning softball. I'm listening to my team [at the press conference], and I am really proud of where we are right now because they are talking about having good at-bats, accepting their roles and playing one-inning softball. That is championship-caliber softball, and that's what coaches like to see."
On scouting the super regional... "I'll tell you that there won't be a super regional match that isn't tough. Super regionals are tough; it's made it that much tougher to get to the World Series. We've seen Tennessee over the past few years, but they are a completely different team. We know enough about Virginia Tech that, regardless of who we play, we are going to need to come to play and have a good approach."
U-M Freshman Pitcher Jordan Taylor
On if she was more comfortable after taking a 5-0 lead... "Yeah, definitely. In [a one-run game], one pitch can change the game and it is tied up again. It is a lot easier with that big of a lead."
On if today's one-hit performance was better than Saturday's... "We've been working on a few things so as time goes on I get a little bit more comfortable. [I've been working on] body speed and just getting a bit more pop."
U-M Freshman First Baseman Dorian Shaw
On her grand slam at-bat... "I thought it was a good at-bat, and that's all we really want because more often than not those are going to go in your favor. [Associate head coach Bonnie Tholl] was down the first base line telling me to just hit behind the runner so that somebody could score. I was really just looking for a pitch that I could drive, threw my hands out and hit it over."
On if Kent State was pitching around them... "I knew when I walked up with the bases loaded [in the fourth inning] that she had nowhere to put me, so she had to come with a pitch that I wanted to hit. I didn't see anything I liked, and it worked out in my favor. When they are being careful like that and you do have good at-bats, it usually works out for you. You will either walk, get a baserunner and the people behind you can do the job, or they will put something in the zone and you will be able to get your chance to hit it."
On her first career home run at Alumni Field... "It felt good. You go away [and think] 'Why do you have to give the away fans something to see' There was a lot of people here and a good atmosphere with the regional final -- no better time. I definitely enjoyed it."
On if the pressures of an NCAA Tournament changes the game... "I think our team does a good job of putting the same emphasis on every game, no matter who we are playing. If we are playing Louisiana-Lafayette in February or Kent State in May, we try and just stay level and keep it on the same plane the whole season through. We keep that same level of intensity no matter who we're playing or what game it is."
U-M Senior Second Baseman Samantha Findlay
On if there is any contrast between how the team felt coming into the weekend and now... "We had a great week of practice the week before this, and I think that got us ready for this tournament. We did well in practice, and we took it out on the field."
On the impact of U-M's freshmen... "They are tremendous, and they both know their role and they accept it. They don't come and play as freshmen, they come and play as part of the team. That's what we need them to do, and that is what they've been doing."
