NG0ThRUiMNKS
Michigan golfer Kyle Dobbs held
nothing back at the Big Ten
championship, winning the indi-
vidual conference title with a
score of 287. See page 13.


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Wednesday I
May 14, 1997 16

A clean sweep
Blue wins tourney over Iowa, will
host softball regional on Friday

By B.J. Luria
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 8 Michigan softball team trav-
eled to Iowa City last weekend with one
thing on its mind - revenge.
By defeating Iowa twice to win the Big
Ten tourna-
ment; the
Wolverines (52-
13-1) avenged
their worst Campinship
weekend of
their season. On
April 5 and 6 in Iowa, the Hawkeyes
swept Michigan, 8-2 and 15-4.
"We didn't win the Big Ten outright,

but we went out there and won the tour-
nament on Iowa's field," Michigan coach
Carol Hlutchins said. "It's a great accom-
plishment for our team."
By winning the Big Ten title for the
third consecutive year, the Wolverines
earned an automatic bid to the NCAA
softball tournament. Michigan will host
an NCAA regional this weekend.
"We're just thrilled to host," Hutchins
said. "That's always a goal of ours:'
The Wolverines headed into last week-
end's tournament having won their last 15
Big Ten games. Despite its 18-4 Big Ten
record Michigan was not favored. The
top seed went to No. 3 Iowa, the Big Ten
regular season champion.

"We definitely went in as an underdog
and acted like an underdog and I think we
out-fought them," Hutchins said.
Before they could think about Iowa,
however, the Wolverines faced Michigan
State on Friday. Michigan pitcher Kelly
Holmes beat the Spartans for the th
time this season, 4-0, allowing just two
hits. Lisa Kelley picked sip the game-
winning RBI for Michigan.
In Friday's late game, the Wolverines
faced Iowa pitcher Debbie Bilbao, the
Big Ten player of the year. Michigan
scored first with a run in the first and
pushed its lead to 2-0 with an unearned
run in the second.
See SOFTBALL, Page $

ROB GILMORE/Daily
Michigan pitcher Kelly Holmes' three wins this weekend at Iowa City propelled
the Wolverines to their third consecutive Big Ten tournament title, defeating Iowa.


'Mwomen
netters grab
regional
By Jacob Wheeler
Daily Sports Writer
Last weekend at Vanderbilt, the
Michigan women's tennis team climbed
the remaining - and the hardest -
steps necessary for their first-ever
regional title.
The last step was particularly tough.
Michigan went down to the wire two
days in a row before disposing of
Miami, 5-3, on Saturday, and South
Alabama, 5-4, on Sunday.
"We expected a tough match,"
Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said. "South
Ala ma was playing very well
throughout the tournament."
No. 4 South Alabama gave No. 2
Michigan a surprising run for the title,
swiping half of the singles matches
before bowing to the Wolverines in No.
I and 2 doubles - securing the final
doubles point and the regional title.
Michigan had its back to the wall and
season on the line numerous times
Sunday, before pulling away.
With Michigan down 3-2, Sora Moon
escaped a 1-4, third-set deficit in No. 2
singles, beating her opponent, 7-5, 2-6,
7-6 (3). Her victory tied the match at
three*
"I thought we fought really hard," Ritt
said. "But Moon's victory was a break-
through.,We needed that momentum
going into doubles."
Michigan's first regional title and
first NCAA championship berth, how-
See TENNIS, Page 15

Baseball takes
- -
Big Ten title
By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Editor
Light years is a long time. Two presidential terms. T
Olympiads. Four years of undergraduate and four years of
medical school combined - for most people.
One Michigan Big Ten baseball championship.
The Wolverines are the conference champs after disposing of
No. 22 Ohio State this weekend by taking two of four games.
"We're not done yet," Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said.
"This is just one step along the way. We've got the Big Ten
playoffs and see if we can can qualify for regionals."
Nearly half of the boisterous Fisher Stadium crowd -
clearly the largest of the season - had made the trip fr@
Columbus to see their Buckeyes take another league title.
But not this weekend
"Quite a few of us had to watch as they celebrated on their
field three years ago" Michigan captain and second baseman
Kirk Beermann said. "There isn't a better team to clinch the
Big Ten on than Ohio State."
This year, the Wolverines grabbed hold of the conference
See BUCKEYES, Page 14
The long and winding road
Big Ten baseball tournament
Thursday, May 15
Game 1: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Purdue, 12 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Illinois, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 toser, 12 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3:30 p.m
Saturday, May 17
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 12 p.m.
Game 6: Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3:30 p.m 0
Sunday, May 18
Game 7 (if necessary): 1 p.m.

SARA STILLMAN/u,
After defeating Ohio State this weekend, Michigan is number one in the Big Ten. Just two years ago, the
Wolverines were in last place, but with the title they host the conference playoffs, which start tomorrow.

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