The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 11, 1994 - 19 'M' softball drills Northwestern Michigan breaks .500 mark with four game sweep of Wildcats By MELANIE SCHUMAN DAILY SOFTBALL WRITER The challenge of crushing Northwestern's Big Ten hopes in its conference debut was motivation enough for the Michigan softball team. The Wolverines (6-2 Big Ten, 18- 16 overall) rallied not only for four victories against the No. 18 Wildcats (0-4, 14-12), but also managed to rise above the .500 mark for the first time this season. Thanks to clutch hitting, strong pitching and extra innings, Michigan paved its way to third place in the conference standings. In game one of Friday's double- header, freshman Jessica Lang wal- loped her first home run as a Wolver- ine to break open a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth, with runners on first and second, junior Kelly Kovach (8-8) held off the Wildcats by striking out one batter and forcing the next to ground out. That scoreless effort ignited the Wolverines in the bottom of that frame when third baseman Tracy Carr, who went 2-for-3 in the contest, singled in shortstop Mary Campana to seal the triumph. Although Northwestern put in Beverly Stigglebauer to stifle the Wolverine rally, Wildcat standout Michelle Hawkins (10-3) took the loss. In the second game, victory was not so easy for the Wolverines. Michi- gan made a bid for the win in the fifth inning when it loaded the bases with Northwestern ahead, 1-0. After steal- ing second, sophomore Cheryl Pearcy slid around a tag at the plate to score on Carr's RBI double to left-center field. Michigan, however, could not muster another run. It seemed as though the Wolver- ines would end the deadlock in the 11th, when sophomore Kathryn Gleason was called safe on first baseman's Tracy Hocutt's behind the back tag, a call which Northwestern assistant coach Robin Petrini deemed "unbelievable." The Wolverines found a spark, as Campana's smack to center ignited Gleason, who was tagged out at the plate. But with darkness looming and two outs in the top of the 12th, left fielder Lesa Arvia singled to left, scor- ing Lang. "It seemed as if we just got hot at that point, and Northwestern got into trouble," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. Outfielder Anne Carpenter hesi- tated on the throw as the Wolverines held their breath when Lang circled the bags. After Arvia stole second, she and first baseman Michelle Silver came in on catcher Jennifer Smith's two-run single to seal the victory. Kelly Holmes pitched all 12 innings for Michigan, improving her record to 7-8. "No other way like waiting for the when the Wolverines dropped the first' two games to Ohio State. Michigan had gone on to win the next two, but hoped Northwestern would not have the same success. "They're in the position we were- in last week. They'll be happy to split with us. We're not," Hutchins said. Apparently, the team felt the same way. Although Michigan needed ex- tra innings again to record victory number three on the season against the Wildcats, the final game of the series was by far the easiest. As promised, fans got a glimpse at Michigan's new pitching rotation in the first of Saturday's matchups when Carr relieved Kelly Holmes after just two batters in the seventh. (Kovach had started the contest). Clutch hit- ting in the bottom of the seventh, not to mention two Northwestern errors, tied the game for the Wolverines, 4-4. Arvia started the rally with a two- run double down the left-field line and designated player Kathleen Berrigan scored the tying run on an error. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Michigan won 5-4 when Berrigan scored again, this time on a fielder's choice. Twelve Wolverine hits in the fourth game of the weekend repre- sented Michigan's determination to See SOFTBALL, Page 20 f zl Lang 12th inning to beat (out a close one)," Hutchins said. "It's a great game, (but) it's a tough way to lose." Saturday morning, Michigan knew Northwestern was in a position simi- lar to its own the weekend before, SARAH WHITING/Daily Junior Michelle Silver had five hits for the Wolverines this weekend. LrWolverines add needed depth _ine'__ies_ and quality to pitching rotation *aB Mchtle Silver. By MELANIE SCHUMAN DAILY SOFTBALL WRITER Before this season, the Wolverines' pitching rotation was shallow. The loss of Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Kelly Forbis to graduation left the coaches with a sole building block, junior Kelly Kovach. Forbis, who finished her senior year with a 1.37 ERA, carried Michigan to its second consecutive Big Ten title last year. Forbis pitched 11 shutouts, including the school's first perfect game in a 5-0 win over Santa Clara. "She was at the top of her game her senior year," Kovach said. Although only a junior, Kovach is no novice. Last season, Kovach, twice the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, recorded 20 wins and only nine losses. The season before, Kovach (19-9) earned Big Ten Freshman and Pitcher of the Year honors. So when the Wolverines entered the Big Ten portion of this season under .500, it seemed as if Forbis might be missed more than anyone probably wanted to admit. But when it lost one Kelly, Michigan found another. Canton native Kelly Holmes couldn't have joined the softball team at a better time, considering the void in the pitching staff. Also, Michigan's past success had brewed optimism for the season ahead. "When we recruited Holmes, she had the same mold as Forbis - big, tall, linear and throws (hard)," coach Carol Hutchins said. "When I saw (Holmes) in the fall, I knew she would step in and help us. Certainly, you don't replace a senior with a freshman, (but)Iknew she could hold her own." Holmes finished her high school career at 73-12, including 15 no-hitters and a phenomenal 0.39 ERA. Twice, she was an All-State selection in Michigan. After a few adjustments to college ball, she became the newest part of the Kelly tandem. "We weren't really competing for a job," Kovach said. "We know we're one pitching staff." Yet, perhaps what Kovach didn't know was that this pitching staff would soon enlarge. Adding sophomore Tracy Carr gave Michigan a formidable trio. In high school, Carr set a national prep softball record for career victories, tallying 136 in four seasons. At Michigan she played outfield and second base, then settled into third. "Tracy Carr is probably the most focused athlete I've ever coached," Hutchins said. This season, she shines at the hot corner. But another infield spot has her in the headlines as well. On the mound this season, Carr (2-0) has an ERA of 0.60. Carr's pitching game is different than the Kelly tandem. Her pace, strength and stroke all make it more difficult for batters to adjust to Michigan's third "great weapon." "(Carr) gets us fired up," Kovach said. "She just gives us that lift. We had a tough preseason and she definitely helps us out. We're not taking a step down." In fact, the pitching staff is ascending just as the Big Ten season is getting underway. All three contributed to the four-game rout of Northwestern this past weekend. "To be competitive, you always have to have a two- pitcher rotation. This year, we've needed (Carr) a bit more and she's stepped up," Hutchins said. "Right now we're going with the pitcher who looks the strongest in the starting job and working all three into games if we have to." r rogucin easeswas ogeoucege. Power Macmioshm 6100160 8/160, Apple Color Plus 14" Dizay, Apple Flended KeyboardlY and mouse. Only $29500. Power Macintshm 7100/66 8/250, intealAppleCDM 3001 Plus CD-ROM Drive, Macintosh' Color Dpay, Apple Extended Keyboard II and mouse. Only $345500 Speed. Power. And more speed. That's what the new Power Macintosh is all about. 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