Rowing comes in 
second at Big Ten’s

By ALEX KHALIFEH 

Daily Sports Writer

Don’t look too far into the simi-

larities between this group and last 
year’s.

Though the No. 11 Michigan 

women’s rowing team finished with 
the same overall result as it did in 
last year’s Big Ten Tournament — a 
second-place finish to top-ranked 
Ohio State — the end results in the 
particular races had different, and in 
some cases better, outcomes.

Take the Wolverines’ second var-

sity eight, for example.

Unlike last year, when Michigan’s 

crew finished in second place behind 
Ohio State, the Wolverines bested 
the Buckeyes this time around, win-
ning the Big Ten title for the second 
varsity eight.

“I just know all of the hard work 

the girls in that boat have put in,” said 
senior Alex Spaulding.

“They were down nine seconds to 

Ohio State, and then up on them four. 
… It was just super motivating and I 
think it really set the tone that any-
thing is possible. … I was so excited 
for them, and it was a really special 
win for them and the team.”

The second varsity eight title is the 

first for the Wolverines since 2012.

In the first varsity eight, Michigan 

placed second behind Ohio State, 
separated by a mere 2.782 seconds. 
Though the Wolverines played a 

neck-and-neck race, Indiana put a 
scare into Michigan, as the Hoosiers 
conjured up a late rally in the final 
500 meters before the Wolverines 
were able to hold Indiana off and 
secure second place.

Despite not being able to take 

home the Big Ten title in their 
respective event, the first varsity 
eight crew were pleased to notice the 
improvements against the Buckeyes 
since their previous matchup just 
last month.

“We’re really excited going into 

nationals,” said Spaulding. “The 
margin (Ohio State) had on us a few 
weeks ago was cut in half. We know 
we have another chance at them at 
NCAAs, so we’re excited about it.”

The first novice eight faced a dif-

ficult time during its event, finishing 
fifth overall, while the second varsi-
ty four and third varsity four placed 
third and fourth, respectively.

After the tournament ended, 

Spaulding along with seniors Jes-
sica Eiffert and Hannah Sherman 
were honored with All-Big Ten team 
recognition. Senior Allison Boss was 
also recognized for the Sportsman-
ship Award.

“It’s actually incredible,” said 

Spaulding. “It’s super humbling and 
kind of surreal. It was something 
that I kind of dreamt of (along with) 
being in the (first varsity eight). It’s 
a super big honor and I’m really 
happy about it.”

Softball ready for Bulldogs 

By CHRIS CROWDER 

Daily Sports Writer

Last year, the Michigan soft-

ball failed to make the Women’s 
College World Series. It lost in 
the Super Regionals — the round 
the Wolverines are heading into 
Thursday. But this is a different 
team. This is a different year, a 
different opponent.

No. 3 Michigan (54-6 overall) 

isn’t worried or thinking about 
last season’s shortcoming. It 
replaces the fear that could be 
there with confidence.

“We might be facing better 

talent (this week compared to 
previous weeks) and everything,” 
said freshman first baseman Tera 
Blanco. “But if we stick to us and 
stick to what we do, I think we’re 
going to be fine.”

Added sophomore right-hand-

er Megan Betsa: “We’re stick-
ing to our normal routine. We’re 
doing everything the exact same 
that we would do if it was some-
one else.”

This year’s Super Regional 

opponent is the No. 14 seed of the 
NCAA Division 1 Softball Tour-
nament, Georgia (44-15). The 
Bulldogs finished sixth in the 
loaded SEC Conference, but lead 
it in batting average (.346) and 
stolen bases (122). Georgia’s posi-
tion at both categories proves its 
proficiency at contact hitting and 
running well on the base paths.

“Their 
offense 
is 
pretty 

strong,” said Michigan coach 
Carol Hutchins. “They’ve got 
great hitters, they’ve got team 
speed. You know they’re going to 
be dangerous and they’re going to 

be really aggressive.”

Hutchins 
emphasized 
how 

the top two hitters of the lineup, 
right fielder Sydni Emanuel and 
second baseman Alex Hugo, are 
threats with their skills at the 
plate. Emanuel and Hugo are in 
the top 15 in their conference 
in batting average with .429 
and .403 marks, respectively. 
Hugo leads the SEC in slugging 
percentage by a wide margin, 
maintaining a .918 clip.

The Bulldogs’ pitching staff 

is not too shabby either, hold-
ing a 2.04 earned-run average. 
Taking over most of the starts 
is right-hander Chelsea Wilkin-
son. Wilkinson has a 1.95 ERA 
and leads her conference with 28 
wins and 262 strikeouts. Being 
a strikeout artist like Betsa, the 
matchup between the two right-
handers will be a highly antici-
pated one.

“(Coach 
Brundage) 
wants 

me to shoot for 21 strikeouts, 
so that’s what I’m gonna do 
this weekend,” Betsa said. “I’m 
gonna try to strike out 21 people. 
But it may not happen, and that’s 
something I’m gonna have to be 
okay with if it doesn’t happen. 
My mentality is going to stay the 
same. I’m a strikeout pitcher and 
that’s what I’m going to do.”

Hutchins wants Betsa to have 

this attitude, stressing that the 
pitching staff will be of high 
importance this round.

“We have to attack them 

because they’re going to attack 
us,” Hutchins said. “We can’t 
pitch around them and we can’t 
be tentative. Because if the 
pitchers are tentative, our team 

will be tentative.”

But the Wolverines are any-

thing but tentative at this point. 
They’re ready to punch their tick-
et to Oklahoma City. Hutchins 
said that there are 16 teams 
left out of around 300. And she 
emphasized that these 16 are not 
necessarily the best, but are play-
ing the best right now. This spot 
is earned and couldn’t have been 
earned with tentativeness.

“This is the bottom line, I don’t 

know if this is proper to say, but 
it’s kill or be killed,” Hutchins 
said. “You show up and play, 
you show up and attack, or be 
attacked. So you’re either going to 
win, or you’re going to lose. You 
can’t be afraid of it. The minute 
you’re afraid you might not go to 
Oklahoma City, I guarantee you 
won’t go.”

Michigan isn’t scared. It isn’t 

worried about how fast Wilkin-
son’s fastball is going to be, or if 
Hugo will take a pitch deep. The 
Wolverines are rather confident 
in how their own pitching staff 
is going to throw well, and how 
everyone in the lineup will con-
tribute when called upon.

Team 38 isn’t Team 37. That 

doesn’t mean that this year’s team 
is better or more confident than 
the one before it. It just means that 
the teams are different. Each team 
has faced different obstacles. For 
Team 38, there’s no fear that last 
year’s history will be repeated.

“We’re not going to be afraid,” 

Hutchins said. “That’s something 
we have to control. Fear creeps 
into everybody’s mind, and that’s 
something you have to throw out 
the window and start slugging.”

LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily

Seniors Jessica Eiffert and Hannah Sherman were named All-Big Ten on Sunday.

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

The No. 3 Michigan softball team takes its nation-leading 112 home runs up against the Georgia Bulldogs Thursday at 9.

10

Thursday, May 21, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS

