8B - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - March 23, 1998 Softball red hot, but boys of summer still await warmth By Nick Koster For the Daily For the second straight year, the Michigan softball team left the Boilermaker Classic undefeated in the tournament and looking to carry momentum into the Big Ten season. Last year, the Wolverines (21-3) swept through the Classic and proceeded to win their next five games. Yesterday, Michigan completed a sweep of a revised tournament schedule, outscor- ing their opponents 29-3 in the process. 'The Wolverines finished off their three-win weekend yesterday by beating Bowling Green for the second time in as many days, 9-2. Marie Barda started for Michigan before being relieved in the third inning by Jamie Gillies. Gillies (7- 1) picked up her second win over the Falcons (4-17-1) in the tournament. A balanced offensive attack plated two runs in each of the first three innings, and three more in the fourth. Kim Bugel led the way for the Wolverines with two RBI, and Tammy Mika and Rebecca Tune chipped in with four hits and three runs scored between them. "It was good to get everyone a chance to play this weekend, and especially sat- isfying to see everyone play so well," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. Earlier yesterday, Michigan dropped Illinois State, 8-0, largely due to a five- run sixth inning. With the score 3-0, the Wolverines ran off five runs on three hits, two errors and two bases on balls. Bugel delivered the big blow again with a two-run pinch-hit single, scoring Tune and Lisa Kelley. A - RT Plus Tax seats ara limited O" each -eae y . i ght . Resu tic tion app. Add Eurail, GermanRail, Guaranteed Lowest Car Rental Rates, Hotel, Youth Hostel , Tl'ID I charter ww.travelchartercom Sara Griffin pitched a complete-game shutout for the Wolverines. In the sixth inning, Griffin (11-0) fanned the Redbirds' Erin Zwinck to break the Michigan career strikeouts record with 466. Griffin added another strikeout to bring her career total to 467. Current Michigan assistant Kelly Kovach had held the record since 1995. Illinois State (7-10) managed just two hits and one walk against Griffin. On Saturday, Michigan trounced Bowling Green, 12-1, in the first of the two weekend meetings. The Falcons were stopped by Wolverine hurler Jamie Gillies in her first outing of the tourna- ment. Gillies scattered six hits over five innings, allowing the lone Falcon run in the fourth inning. Teeing off on Bowling Green pitcher Garrett Gholston (3-12), the Wolverines exploded for 12 runs on 13 hits. Melissa Gentile blasted a three-run home run in the top half of the fifth inning to cap off the scoring. Gentile's home run, her third of the season and ninth of her career, moved the sophomore catcher into third place on the all-time Michigan home run list. Leadoff hitter Traci Conrad also had a big day at the plate. The junior first baseman collected a double and two sin- gles, while scoring three runs for Michigan. "Our offense was very good over the three games, which puts us in a very solid position to start the Big Ten sea- son," Hutchins said. The Wolverines begin Big Ten play with a three-game series against Indiana, in Bloomington, on Mar. 28-9. Weather halts games By Josh Sorkin Daily Sports Writer Just as the temperatures were rising and the Michigan baseball team was getting ready for an important homestand with Iowa, a snowstorm hit the Detroit area. This past weekend, the Wolverines' series with Iowa was canceled due to snow. Michigan (5-9-1) was scheduled to play doubleheaders Saturday and yesterday. Michigan's homIe opener against Iowa was highly anticipated by head coach Geoff Zahn's ballclub. "We were really looking forward to playing this weekend," junior left fielder Jason Alcaraz said. "We came back from a so-so trip in Texas and we have not played in two weeks." The Wolverines faced several prominent Texas teams on their spring trip. But due to the lack of prctice and minimal game experi- ence this season, the Wolverines were not at full strength. "It was the beginning of the year, and it takes a while to get into the swing of things," Alcaraz said. "Some of the Texas teams had already played 15 games, and that really is an advantage for them.' FILE PHOTO While both Melissa Gentile (facing) and Traci Conrad (22) continued their superior hitting, it will take more solid defensive plays to preserve Michigan's stellar 21-3 record. The Wolverines swept this weekend's tournament at Purdue. Blue netters split weekend conference matches By Drew Beaver Daily Sports Writer Fans hope that this isn't turning into a trend -- but it certainly seems like one. The Michigan women's tennis team is becoming famous for streaky play. The trend started with four of five vic- tories to open the year. These were fol- lowed by three straight losses. On Friday, the team appeared to rebound from the minor losing streak by beating Illinois 6-1, but Saturday against Purdue, the Wolverines fell 6-1 again. "Against Purdue, everyone had good spurts and played well, but couldn't hold it together," sophomore Jen Boylan said. The weekend split gave the Wolverines a 2-1 record in the Big Ten and moved them to 5-5 overall. The Boilermakers, who surprised No. 21 Northwestern three weeks ago, have demonstrated that 'they intend to be the darkhorse of the Big Ten this year. Purdue opened the match by winning the doubles point, taking two of the three doubles matches. 'The No. 3 tandem of Tumeka Harris and Erryn Weggenman earned a 9-7 vic- tory for the Wolverines. The Boilermakers then went on a tear through the singles. Only Michigan sophomore Danielle Lund held off a Purdue shutout, winning her No. 2 sin- gles match in straight sets. "I think losing to Purdue gives us some fire to get back out there and face them again," Lund said. She could get her wish at the Big Ten Championships next month. The weekend began for the Wolverines on a positive note. Michigan dominated Illinois in Champaign on Friday, winning 6-1. The Wolverines opened the meet by sweeping the doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead in the team competition. In sin-' gles play, Michigan did not slow down. The Wolverines swept the No. 2 through No. 6 singles matches, dominating their opponents in the process. At No. 4 singles, Michigan sopho- more Erryn Weggenman gave up only one game en route to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Allison Gottlieb. Lund controlled her opponent in a similar fashion at No. 2 singles, winning 6-3, 6-2. Michigan's only loss came at No. 1 singles, where sophomore Brooke Hart lost in three sets to Illinois' Simone Kung. The Wolverines' loss to Purdue was their first Big Ten loss since the 1996 Big Ten Championships. Michigan swept their Big Ten oppo- nents last year in regular season play and then won all three of its matches at the SENIORS, BEFORE YOU SAY GOOD-BYE TO U-M, SAY THANKS' TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG THE WAY! $U "Losing to Purdue gives us some fire to get back out there" - Danielle Lund Michigan women's tennis player Big Ten Championships to claim the title. The BigTen women's tennis champi- on is decided at the conference tourna- ment, with seedings based on regular season records. Wisconsin has taken an early lead in the conference standings with a 4-0 record. Net returns The Michigan women's tennis team is keeping busy, with five matches scheduled in 10 days. The Wolverines began the stretch on the road last weekend against Illinois and Purdue. Their next three matches are at home - against Notre Dame on Wednesday and against Indiana and Ohio State next weekend. I[ AV 4 k Darlkesco Thank you! 19 1 'Girazi'e Is there a mentor, alumnus/a, or friend who has made your Michigan experience memorable? Has an instructor, GSI, or counselor helped you during your studies? If so, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts! The Alumni Association of the University of Michi- gan offers graduates the opportunity to say "thank you" publicly. Just complete the form below in- cluding your message of 50 words or less. The Alumni Association will publish the messages In the Monday, April 20 issue of the Michigan Gaily. In order to participate, you must turn in your mes- sage by Friday, April 3, 1808. To turn in your thank you message = Drop it off: Alumni Center - see map a Mail it : Seniors Say Thanks Alumni Center, 200 Retcher Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1007 e Send an email: bethhill@umich.edu STARS BAKERY 990 Everyday Individual Cake eFrench style cookies *Middle Eastern Food *European pastry 402 Maynard (formerly Ac c1coY service) r.: m Ij oR realmic~~ ALUMNI ASSOCIATIQN Washington Alumni MLB Center Bell Hill ' Ao% 0 An " low yo U I- Q N questions: bethhill@umich.edu or call 763-7411. toflmiss G cinsto ONS1ytain lava M.O.P. North University Seniors, say thank you to someone who made a difference in your college experience. Complete this form and return it to the Alumni Center, 200 Fletcher Street, by Friday, April 3, 1998. release dates subject to change without notice, sorry. Sq Your name: email: phone: Special Person: Title: oonobedeased musc from same b t. ,datos cmucaM W(rorpies W bto IM 3.3: Cocoa rvvA O 1DaOV1AP R IU Yonur thank you message 150 wards or less):I V~Ii IAIAV I C I