Page 14 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, May 13, 1988
Michigan stymies Gophers
BY MIKE GREIFENBERG
The Michigan women's softball team took a major step toward the
Big Ten Championship last weekend as they took three of four games
from Minnesota to open a two and one-half game lead over the Golden
Gophers. The Wolverines only need to split their last four games at
fifth-place Indiana to clinch their first ever Big Ten title.
The entire series with Minnesota featured outstanding pitching, as
Wolverine hurlers did not give up a single earned run en route to three
shutout victories and a one-run loss.
In the first game Friday, senior pitcher Michelle Bolster stymied her
opponents, allowing only two Gophers to reach base. Bolster provided
her own offensive help in the sixth inning when she led off with a dou-
ble, went to third on a wild pitch, and then scored the game's only run
on junior MaryAnn Daviera's pinch-hit single.
Minnesota could only do slightly better in the nightcap, collecting
three hits off of first-year pitcher Andrea Nelson. The fireworks in the
game came in the bottom of the first inning as Michigan started the
game with five consecutive singles which led to three runs. Sophomore
Jenny Allard was four for four and junior Nan Payne had two hits in the
5-0 Michigan win.
SATURDAY'S OPENER was another 1-0 duel between Bolster
and her pitching nemesis in Friday's opener, Brenda Bixby, but this
time with Bixby the winner.
Although the Wolverines managed only three hits off Bixby, they
found themselves with an outstanding scoring opportunity in the sixth
inning, only to leave the inning with the bases loaded and scoreless.
Minnesota scored an unearned run in the fifth inning as outfielder Julie
Cooper mishandled a Shanelle Peterson fly ball, that led to the game's
only run after two Minnesota singles.
The Wolverines salvaged a split on the afternoon as their bats ex-
ploded in the late innings of the series' final game. They used two runs
in the fourth, three in the fifth, and two more in the sixth inning to
blow open a close lead and thereby tighten their hold on first place.
Allard once again had a hot bat, hitting a home run to open the
scoring in the second inning. She finished the game with three hits, in-
cluding two RBIs and two runs scored. Also doing major damage to the
Golden Gopher pitching staff were Payne, who collected three hits and
two RBIs and Cooper, who added two hits to help lead the Wolverines
to the 8-0 rout.
The Wolverines continued their fine pitching in non-conference ac-
tion on Wednesday, sweeping past Eastern Michigan by scores of 1-0
and 3-0, preparing themselves for Indiana.
As they enter the crucial series with the Hoosiers, Michigan seems
confident. "We're playing as a team," sophomore first basewoman Sara
Dyksterhouse said. "We have to keep doing it to win the Big Ten."
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Sophomore Julie Cooper successfully slides into third base in the first game of Saturday's
doubleheader against Minnesota. The Wolverines took three of four on the weekend.
Wolvrn tracks ters3 to
BY ADAM BENSON fore next week's Big Ten champi- smaller schools, there are quality
The Michigan men's and onship meet in Ann Arbor. runners in many races. This is an
women's track teams will host the "In the past, this has been a great open meet, and many runners can
Len Paddock Invitational at Ferry tune-up meet, because we don't have come in and compete."
Field this weekend. While the other to travel before Big Ten's," said Harvey is looking for top perfor-
schools competing are not considered men's coach Jack Harvey. "Exams mances from his half-milers. Michi-
to be national powerhouses, both are done, and it's a relaxed time. gan's Matt Butler, Rollie Hudson,
teams expect a competitive meet be- While the field is mostly made up of Neil Newman, and Tom Fitzsim-
mons will be competing against the
Chicago Track Club's Mike Gebeke
and Sarnia College's Harvey Mitio,
who have both run the half-mile un-
der 1:50.
. D a y s In the sprints, Phil Ferguson has
shown steady improvement and
Lease any apartm ent should be a force in both the 100 and
200-yard dashes, while Claude Tiller
for $10 0.will help as well.
Or - For the women's team, head
(Applied to September rent) coach James Henry's biggest worries
did not concern the upcoming meet.
Sprinter Gillian Osburn was injured
in last week's meet at Michigan
ME K=sT AState. Osburn, the team's best
sprinter, will definitely sit out this
meet, and may have to miss the Big
Ten's.
"Losing Gillian really hurts,"
Henry said, "Losing her could have
1700 Geddes 1224 Washtenaw cost us 15-20 points in the Big
1506 Geddes 520 Packard Ten's."
1001 S. Forest 543 Church Even with this distraction, Henry
S. Foest 15 W lnutis preparing his seam for this week-
610 S. Forest 515 Walnut end's meet. No Wolverine relay
We also have other great properties! teams will run, but Henry expects
More Information at: tough races throughout the competi-
543 Church Yes tin
Ann Arbor, M1 we're open "We will be competitive," Henry
Ssaid, "but we really need an easy
(313) 761-1523 Saturdays week."