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." Special Student and Youth Fares to EUROPE from Chicago on Scheduled Airlines DESTINATIONS OW RT LONDON from $300 $399 PARIS 235 449 COPENHAGEN 320 590 ATHENS 350 669 MADRID 250 525 ROME 325 625 WORLDWIDE DESTINATIONS OW RT AUSTRALIA from $580 $1070 TEL AVIV 390 739 RIO 375 715 NEW ZEALAND 540 980 Similar low fares from most major U.S. cities are available. We have special Student and Youth fares to all major worldwide destinations. We also issue Eurail Passes and International Student I.D. Cards.' CALL OR WRITE FOR A FREE COPY OF THESTUDENT TRAVEL HANDBOOK AND RESERVATION INFORMATION TO: THE STUDENT TRAVEL NETWORK (312) ESm 525.9227 3249 N. Broadway STA TRAVEL Chicago, IL 60657 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."