0 6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 31, 2003 'M' weathers cold, sweeps Wildcats By Sharad Mattu Daily Sports Writer After 17 grueling innings of soft- ball, Michigan's Grace Leutele had one thought: "Let's get out of the cold!" But the Wolverines weren't just happy to warm up - they were also thrilled to escape with a pair of extra-inning wins over Northwestern. In the second game, the two starters, Nicole Motycka for Michi- gan and Brie Brown for Northwest- ern, matched each other out-for-out until the seventh inning. But in the end, Michigan's Maris- sa Young single handedly finished off the Wildcats in the eighth inning - first with her bat, and then with her arm. With two outs in the eighth inning, Young lined a singled to left field, driving in two and giving Michigan a 3-1 lead. Young took that lead to the mound, and after left fielder Melin- da Moulden provided the team a reason to laugh when she tripped going after a routine fly ball, the hurler struck out the side to wrap up the sweep. Young also got Michigan out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, Young retired the next three batters to end the threat. Michigan coach Carol Hutchins was pleased to see Young bounce back from a tough weekend on the mound and close the game out strong. Young, now 11-1, suffered her first loss on Friday against Illi- nois and allowed four runs (2 earned) in seven and a third innings in the first game yesterday before Motycka relieved her. "I thought her presence when she came back in was excellent," Hutchins said. "She just seemed to have a little swagger that she lacked SETH LOWER/! , e Daniy The Wolverines split two games with Illinois to start the weekend, losing 4-0 on Friday before a 4, 12-4 victory Saturday. for a good portion of the first game." Young was happy to get another chance on the mound. "I was just determined not to let them come back and get in the game," Young said. "Nicole came and bailed me out in the game before, so it was my turn to return the favor." Young was the hero in the first game as well. She led off the ninth inning with a solo homerun to cen- terfield, giving Michigan a thrilling 6-5 win. In both the sixth and eighth innings, Michigan was behind and relied on timely hitting to extend the game. With one out in the sixth and the Wolverines down 3-2, Jessica Mer- chant was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Leutele's sacrifice bunt. Courtney Bentley and Tiffany Haas followed with singles to tie the game. Michigan found itself behind 5-3 in the eighth inning, but struck back immediately. After a single down the right field line by Merchant, Leutele got a chance to hit and made the most of it, smacking a homer to tie the score. Yesterday's doubleheader sweep completed a 3-1 weekend for the Wolverines. Michigan split two games with Illinois, losing its home opener 4-0 on Friday before bounc- ing back with a 12-4 win Saturday. Tomorrow, Michigan visits Kala- mazoo for a pair of games against Western Michigan. Hutchins hopes to see the same resiliency from her players through- out the season. "You can't let anything that does- n't go your way affect you, and we did a great job of that," Hutchins said. "Our intensity, our enthusiasm; they really had it. I'm just really pleased. That was a great series." 9 REBECCA SAHN/Daily Michigan didn't do much hitting yesterday, but the Wolverines did enough to take two games from Northwestern at Alumni Field. Young and old lead Wolverines' charge By Megan Kolodgy Daily Sports Writer This weekend brought several milestones for Michigan's softball team. It marked the Wolverines' home opener at Alumni Field, their first opportunity for Big Ten action and the chance to up its record to 19-8. Accompanying these team land- marks were personal victories for two Wolverines at very different places in their careers. In the eighth inning of the first game of yesterday's doubleheader against Northwestern, freshman Grace Leutele sailed the ball over the fence, knocking in both herself and Jessica Merchant and putting Michigan neck-and-neck with the Wildcats, 5-5. A game-tying homerun in extra innings would be an impressive feat that would most likely leave any player with a feeling of accomplishment. For Leutele, however, it was an experience that will remain etched in her mind for days to come. It is not everyday, after all, that a player hits the first homerun of her col- lege career in this situation. "I was just excited that I actually got to hit instead of bunt," Leutele said. Her hit was off Northwestern's Courtnay Foster, a pitcher whom she competed against in high school, and with whom she remains friends. "Being up against her was excit- ing, and it helped knowing what to expect," she said. Leutele's hit inspired confidence from Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. "(It was) fabulous," Hutchins said. "She did what we hoped she would do." The freshman's homer was fol- lowed by yet another homerun from senior Marissa Young in the bottom of the ninth inning. This clutch play allowed the Wolverines to pull ahead, with a score of 6-5, and gave the team a boost of confi- dence going into the second game. But the intrepid Young was not finished for the day. Not by a long shot. Though she did not pitch dur- ing the second game, she held her own in the field until pitcher Nicole Motycka, weary from throwing for 8.2 consecutive innings, needed a rest. 'Young stepped up to the mound with a look of self-assurance that was unfamiliar from the weekend's earlier competition. She quickly wrapped up the remaining innings, permiting no Wildcat to cross home plate, set- ting the stage for Michigan to take the lead. "She had that attitude that's her trademark," Hutchins said. Through this, Young facilitated this endeavor. In the eighth, she executed it, bringing in two run- ners and leading Michigan to its 3- 1 victory. "I went up there really relaxed, and hit off the energy of my team- mates," Young said. The senior also brought her sea- son pitching record to 11-1. Leutele looks to Young for inspi- ration and leadership. "Well, she keeps up the intensity for the whole team," Leutele said. "She makes you want to bring it every time, because she never lets down. She's just somebody you have to admire." The victories that these atheletes contributed to so significantly helped get the Wolverines off on the right foot as far as Big Ten play is concerned. "We don't want to lose any of our Big Ten games," Leutele said. "One of our goals is to tear it up in the Big Ten." YESTERDAY' S GAME Michigan 3, Northwestern 1 M nih (190) Player AB R H BI Haas 2b 4 21 0 Doe cf 3 1 1 0 Moulden If 2 0 0 1 Schackc 4 02 0 Young lb/p 4 0 2 2 Motycka p/dp 3 0 0 0 Merchant ss 2 0 0 0 Leutele 3b 2 0 0 0 Betsey rf 3 00 0 Total 27 3 63 No tnwstemn(1710) Player AB R H SI Nakabayashi if 4 1 2 0 Mobley rf 2 0 1 0 Leto 2b 3 00 0 Dotsonlb 4 02 1 Muran 3b 4 0 10 Schwendimann2 0 0 0 Kirac 2000 Crane ss 3 0 0 0 Wellnitz cf 2 0 0 0 Pettinger ph 1 0 0 0 Total 27 1 6 1 *1 LOB - Michigan 6; Northwestern 7; E - Michigan 1: Kira 25- Haas; Mobley Michigan 000 001 02 3 6 0 Northwestern 000 001 00 1 6 1 Michigan Motycka Young Northwestern Brown Schwendimann IP H R ER BB SO 6.0 5 1 1 2 3 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 6.2 4 1 1 2 1 1.1 2 2 0 0 0 At -Alumni Field Attendance - 503 Time - 2:09 Tennis we By Eric Ambinder Daily Sports Writer Saturday's match against Min- nesota (3-1 Big Ten, 10-5 overall) and yesterday's match against Iowa (1-3, 5-11) proved to be two of the most dramatic contests of the season for the Michigan women's tennis team (3-2, 10-5), with both decided by incredible late-game comebacks. Just ask any member of Michi- gan's squad, and she will tell you the most difficult game to win in tennis is the final one. Trailing 3-1 to Minnesota on Sat- urday, Michigan battled back with incredible come-from-behind victo- ries by Leanne Rutherford and Chrissie Nolan to even up the score 3-3. In the deciding match, Michi- gan's Kim Plaushines held a com- manding 5-1 third-set lead over Minnesota's Michaela Havelkova. "It was a see-saw match," Min- ekend h1ghlghted b nesota coach Tyler Thomson said. the fourth time this season. "Whoever was ahead had difficul- "I'm really pleased that we swept ties protecting the lead. In the third doubles. I thought the improvement set, I told Michaela to relish the from yesterday was impressive," opportunity to be the spoiler." Ritt said. "We communicated well Shocking the crowd at the Varsity on the court, and our execution was Tennis Center, Havelkova reeled off much improved." six consecutive games, winning the Michigan's Michelle DaCosta final set 7-5 and the match for the crushed Iowa's Cassie Haas 6-2, 6-1 Golden Gophers 4-3. The win io pad the Wolverine lead, 2-0. But snapped Michigan's 12-match win- Iowa battled back, posting wins at ning streak at the Varsity Tennis the No. 2 and No. 3 singles posi- Center. tions to even the match at 2-2. The "I thought we fought hard," said Big Ten Athlete of the Week for Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt. "We had women's tennis, Leanne Rutherford, some opportunities in several match- fought off five set points in the sec- es, and we weren't able to take ond set to win her match 6-2, 7-6 advantage. We just have to forget (9-7) over Iowa's Gloria Okino, giv- this match and think about Iowa." ing Michigan a 3-2 advantage. Yesterday, the Wolverines looked "I really didn't want to go to a to rebound against an Iowa team third set," Rutherford said. "I just that had beaten them the past three made it happen." seasons. After Rutherford completed her The Wolverines jumped ahead 1- second brilliant comeback of the 0, sweeping the doubles matches for weekend, the Wolverines needed just drama one of the remaining two matches to earn their 10th victory of the sea- son. Once again, the entire match appeared to rest on Plaushine's shoulders as she was deadlocked in a third setter with Iowa's Chelsea Glynn, but Jen Duprez's comeback victory over Iowa's Jennifer Hodg- man saved the day for the Wolver- ines, as she clinched the 4-3 nail-biter for the Wolverines. Following a convincing 6-1 first set, Duprez found herself in a third set hole trailing 5-4. "I thought I played well in the first set, and then she stepped up her level of play in the second and third sets," Duprez said of her oppo- nent. "She was pushing me around a lot, and I just knew I couldn't let that continue. Then I became more aggressive." Like Saturday's contest, the player who was one game away from defeat rallied to win the match for her team - this time the outcome favored Michigan. "I think it would have been diffi- cult for us to lose two close matches in a row," coach Ritt said. "We put our heart and soul into the match on every court today." TANKERS Continued from Page1B6 didn't get you into the finals. The field improved significantly, and it was a really tough meet." Michigan ended the year with a run at the NCAA Championship. For the seniors, the NCAA Champi- onship was their last hurrah as a Wolverine. "Hopwood has been our number one breaststroker for all five years," Urbanchek said. Unbanchek also took time to reflect on his seniors' performances throughout theircareer. "Mangieri was the backbone of our relays. Every relay for the past four years had Mangieri on it. Also, Drake's 1,650-yard performance was great. Justin (Drake) was one of the most surprising swimmers we had over the years. He was just a walk- on, and nobody thought he was going to place in the NCAA. However, within two years he has made NCAA cuts and placed. That's just one of the joys of coaching, and they are all good solid swimmers." - + ! >E'. lUnr+ Pi.'pN:',:r , il;Yf~i.%.%}, }, } i t ' £{VlQ:. tfi .l : 4UYa{ ,P < i i'.kd Y4& 1, # .A (4#.;.., "N A£ f Cl' #". 1 (1i . '?,V,) _: 'i; 1ji1t : . UP. }r. >##e #:#i .t.a,} ' > Y # %(.:''d'e its f{ tS£,t Vl :''1 Alv" B iE At~ . ;: # # .}r 3' 'iA#L';ti~ES~~iS.if! # fi :;) #i:. i ;#)HN-~IPf'# }.;#.##; :r;f#; ? :'a1,"; #4~ C#tr'"S '':s;. 'S#~'re;xC#.J# :C.'E; ii:tLi P T~i< d:# EP tII~s: f ° , 1^'# "#ts (: i?1' fi)4C{ # 'iU #A~i' *x.. C1:p +a t ~ ;EE Pr, . #$3t,''#p sp ''^? } # ! i ff r> Y t Y E# F ? . )i A 1 .1'I. i :" Ef 1 1' t1a '1i ?? lf.' AE? p fa (:SQ ;: : 1# Kz?~ 's'E'}# i . ;;;#E(:. t P##:55:c ;:: iN f P? 3'1..Pi( F: i. 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