4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 3, 2006
FULL COUNT
*I
SOFTBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Samantha Findlay
Michigan
The World Series MVP fought through frus-
trating strikeouts in game one to pound two
home runs and eight RBI in game two. That
one home run was a grand slam was just
icing on the cake.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
"It's never easy playing in the Big Ten"
- Michigan junior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson
on the challenges of the Big Ten season, after
readily defeating Minnesota in both ends of the
doubleheader.
BY THE NUMBERS
I Consecutive shutout innings
played by Michigan.
'M' STAT LEADERS
Sunday's Game 1:
MINNESOTA 0
LP: Dalen (4-6)
MICHIGAN 8
WP: Ritter (10-4)
Sunday's Game 2:
MINNESOTA 0
LP: Hassett (5-10)
MICHIGAN 8
WP: Wilson (8-4)
*I
Short Order Sunday
Shutout pitching powers Blue win streak
By Nate Sandals
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan's offense was impressive
yesterday, but the real drive behind the
Wolverines doubleheader sweep of Min-
nesota and their current
seven-game win streak
has been pitching.
Senior Jennie Rit-
ter and junior Lorilyn
Wilson combined for 11
shutout innings against
Minnesota yesterday,
00
0
Home runs
Becky Marx
9
Runs Alessandra Giampaolo 27
Hits Tiffany Haas 32
RBI
Average
Samantha Findlay
34
1
r
Marx
.337
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Team
Big Ten
Overall
1. Northwestern 4-0 22-8
2. Michigan 2-0 21-9
3. Michigan State 2-0 22-10
4. Indiana 3-1 18-12
5. Iowa 2-2 20-14
6. Purdue 2-2 21-18
7. Ohio State 2-2 18-14
8. Penn State 1-3 21-7
9. Wisconsin 1-3 12-13
10. Illinois 1-3 14-18
11. Minnesota
0-4
11-18
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Friday's results:
INDIANA 4, Ohio State 1
Penn State 8, PURDUE 0
NORTHWESTERN 16, Wisconsin 0
MICHIGAN STATE 3, Minnesota 1
Iowa 9, ILLINOIS 0
Saturday's results:
PURDUE 3, Penn State 1
Ohio State 6, INDIANA 3
NORTHWESTERN 10, Wisconsin 3
Iowa 7, ILLINOIS 4
MICHIGAN STATE 3, Minnesota 1
giving Michigan six shutouts in its last
seven games.
Wilson has been especially lights out
of late. Following five innings of one-hit
ball yesterday, Wilson is riding a streak
of 29 and one-third consecutive shutout
innings.
"I'm just trying to hit my spots when I
pitch," the Salem, Ore., native said. "All
I can do is just pitch it where I'm sup-
posed to."
Going into the fifth and final inning
of Sunday's second game, Wilson was
looking to preserve a no-hitter. But Min-
nesota second baseman Valerie Alston
spoiled the chance when she ripped a line
drive into left-centerfield to lead off the
inning. It would have been Wilson's sec-
ond no-hitter in four games.
Ritter and Wilson have been dominant,
but some credit goes to the defense play-
ing behind them.
Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 21-9 overall)
has committed just one error in its last
six games, all victories. The error came
in the second game of yesterday's dou-
bleheader, on a hard-hit ball to freshman
shortstop Teddi Ewing that could have
been ruled a hit.
The strong performances in the circle
are a positive sign for Michigan as it con-
tinues through the Big Ten season.
"We need (Ritter and Wilson) to do
what we want to do," Michigan coach
Carol Hutchins said. "Their job is to keep
us in the game and wait for the offense to
get it done."
BLUE ON THE BLUES: Tiffany Worthy was
shocked, Carol Hutchins was frustrated
and the crowd was plain mad. All of these
emotions were in response to a question-
able call in the bottom of the fourth
inning of the first game yesterday.
Worthy came to the plate with the
bases loaded and two outs. A hit would
have given Michigan the eight-run lead
needed to end the game after five innings.
MIKE HUL§EBUS/,aily
Junior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson (84) has pitched 29.1 consecutive shutout innings and has won in each of her last five starts.
Sunday's results:
MICHIGAN 8, Minnesota 0
WISCONSIN 12, Illinois 7
INDIANA 4, Penn State 0
Ohio State 3, PURDUE 0
PURDUE 4, Ohio State 1
MICHIGAN 8, Minnesota 0
INDIANA 4, Penn State 0
NORTHWESTERN 12, Iowa 2
Wisconsin 4, ILLINOIS 0
*Home teams in caps
4
"HUTCH"-O-METER
The Michigan Daily softball writers break down
this weekend's games by category. The smiling
face of coach Carol Hutchins measures perfor-
mance, with four faces being the best.
With the count at 2-2, home plate umpire
Otis Walker rung up Worthy on a pitch
that appeared to be well outside. The call
sparked a surprised look on Worthy's
face, a comment from Hutchins and a
chorus of boos from the faithful at Alum-
ni Field.
But that wasn't the only questionable
call yesterday. In both games, Minnesota
and Michigan struggled to adjust to an
inconsistent strike zone.
Although she struck out 12 batters, Rit-
ter saw a number of close calls go against
GOPHERS
Continued from page 1B
Giampaolo followed with a seein
opposite-field single to put runnersc
corners with no outs for the heart
order. Two hitbatters and a wild pitch
Michigan had a 2-0 lead with both
and Giampaolo crossing the plate to
"It's great to score early," Hut
said. "I love a team that scores in th
inning, because it puts the opponet
their heels."
After striking the first blow, the s
sophomore combo didn't let up.
followed up senior Stephanie Bet
BUS/Daily two-out double with a walk to put ru
game. on first and second in the fourth it
SUNDAY, GAME 2
Michigan 8, Minnesota 0
her. At the same time, some Wolverines
struck out looking on pitches that, to
many on the field and in the stands, were
clearly outside the strike zone.
In the second game, it was a shrinking
strike zone that got on Wilson's nerves.
"Today was hard because I was work-
ing from behind (in the count) a lot,"
Wilson said. "The ump wasn't helping
me any."
BIG TIME BIG TEN: Michigan opened its
Big Ten season with yesterday's double-
header against Minnesota (0-4, 11-18).
Following a Gopher pitching chang
Giampaolo hit a frozen rope down tI
rightfield line, scoring Bercaw. Both Ha
ng-eye and Giampaolo came around to scorec
on the a Becky Marx single two batters later,
of the push the Michigan lead to six.
later, In the second game, Giampaolo ga
Haas Michigan the chance to strike first, drag
score. ing a walk to get on base for Findlay, wl
tchins sliced a double to right-centerfield to p
e first the Wolverines up 1-0.
nts on Haas singled, and Giampaolo walk
to lead off the third inning, forcing Mi
enior- nesota to pitch to Findlay. The sophomo
Haas made them pay by driving a pitch over t
rcaw's centerfield fence to put Michigan up fou
unners The duo followed the same script in t
nning. fourth to set up Findlay's grand slam.
Last season, the Wolverines went 18-2 in
the Big Ten, winning the regular-season
title and the conference tournament.
After spending the last two months
traveling around the country to take on
the competition in warm weather, the
Wolverines are pleased to be at home,
taking on conference opponents.
"(The Big Ten season) is what we've
been working up to all preseason," Wil-
son said. "I like it because it's so com-
petitive. Every game counts just as much
as the next."
;e, The production of Findlay, Haas and
he Giampaolo provided more than enough
as cushion for pitchers Jennie Ritter and
on Lorilyn Wilson. Ritter overpowered
to Minnesota in the first game, striking out
12 Gophers in six innings to improve to
ve 10-4 on the season.
w- Wilson (8-4) continued Michigan's
ho dominance from the mound, allowing
ut just one hit and striking out nine batters
in five innings to extend her scoreless
ed streak to 29 and one-third innings. The
n- Wolverines have shut out six of their last
re seven opponents.
he "I'm pleased (with the pitching),"
r. Hutchins said. "Lorilyn, I couldn't be hap-
he pier. She's throwing better, and Ritter came
out and was fabulous (yesterday)."
DEFENSE
The pitching staff didn't give
the 'D' much of a chance to
strut its stuff, but it delivered
when called upon. You can't
argue with two shutouts, but
an error in game two merits
one head short of perfect.
David
VandeVusse
.
PITCHING
Ritter and Wilson, Wilson and
Ritter. No matter what order
you play them, they're lights
out. Yesterday was no excep-
tion, as the two hurlers com-
bined for 11 shutout innings.
ndals When you're that good, four
Hutch heads come easily.
MIKE HULSE
Samantha Findlay had eight RBI in the second
I
SUNDAY, GAME 1
Michigan 8, Minnesota 0
Nate Sar
Michigan (19-9, 1-0) Minnes
Player AB R H BI Player
Haas 2B 3 3 2 0 Conwa
Giampaolo CF 4 2 2 2 Ericks
Findlay 1B 3 0 0 0 Higgint
Marx C 2 1 2 4 Parks:
sota (11-17, 0-3)
AB R H BI
y SS 3 0 0 0
on LF 3 0 2 0
botham C3 0 0 0
3B 2 000
Michigan (20-9, 2-0)
Minnesota (11-18, 0-4)
Player AB R H BI Player
AB R H BI
Haas 2B 3 2 2 0 Conway SS 2 0 0 0
OFFENSE
The Michigan bats put
Minnesota's pitching staff to
shame, burning through all
four pitchers. With three home
runs, including a grand slam,
Michigan made consecutive
mercies look easy. In other
words, four Hutch heads.
Weatherdon PRO 0 0 0 Alston 2B
Leutele 3B 2 0 1 1 Konderik DP
Worthy DP 3 0 0 0 Arns1B
Bercaw RF 3 0 0 0 Watt CF
Milian LF 1 1 0 0 Sward RF
Danis PH 1 0 0 0 Dalen P
2 0 0 0
2
2
2
1
00
00
0 1
0 0
0
0
0
0
Giampaolo CF 0
Findlay 1B 3
Marx C 3
Leutele 38 2
Worthy DP 3
Bercaw RF 2
Weatherdon PH1
Milian LF 2
Talbot LF 1
3(
2:
0
0
0 0 Erickson L
3 8 Higginboth
0 0 Parks 3B
0 0 Alston 2B
LF 2
ham C2
2
2
0 1 0 Wolvington PR 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 Konderik DP 2 0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arms 1B
Stemper C
Powers PR
Meyer PH
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
00
00
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
Amber Colvin
Ewing SS
Ritter P
Totals
Minnesota
Michigan
3 1 2 0 Valez P
0 0 00
Ewing SS
Wilson P
0 0 00 Sward RF
0 0 0 0
1
25 8 9 7
i
20 0 3 0
R H E
000 000 x - 0 3 0
210 302 x- 8 9 0
Total
21 8 6 8 Total
16 0 1 0
R H E
Hassett P 0 0 0 0
Michigan
Minnesota
103 400 x - 8 6 1
000 000 x - 0 1 0
1-- Idmmkb-
r R OXA/ n
E - none DP - none LOB - Michigan 6; Minnesota 3.
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