No. 1 Michigan Bounces UW From Big Ten Tourney
May 14, 2005 | Softball
The Michigan softball team showed why it's the top-ranked team in the country Saturday afternoon, eliminating Wisconsin from the Big Ten tournament with a 10-1 five-inning victory in the semifinal round Saturday afternoon. The Wolverines advance to play third-seeded Iowa in the championship game.
The loss snaps the Badgers' eight-game win streak and drops them to 31-22 overall on the season. Michigan improves to 54-4 with the victory.
Each team threatened in the first, but came away empty. Michigan got one-out singles from Alessandra Giampaolo and Jessica Merchant, but Eden Brock got a groundball forceout at third and then Boo Gillette teamed up with Athena Vasquez to pick Merchant off second to end the inning.
In the bottom half, Kris Zacher and Sam Polito led off with consecutive singles to start the frame, but Lorilyn Wilson struck out the side to hold the Badgers at bay.
The Wolverines did dent the scoreboard in the second, however. Grace Leutele doubled with one away and Stephanie Bercaw brought her around on a two-run home run to right-center to put Michigan ahead 2-0.
Michigan broke the game open in the third, scoring four runs on seven hits to increase its lead to 7-0. With one down, Merchant deposited an 0-2 offering from Brock deep over the fence in left for her 19th home run of the season. Katie Layne came on to replace Brock in the circle, but the Wolverine offense kept going.
Following a walk and a single, Leutele delivered an RBI single to center to make it 4-0. A Bercaw single loaded the bases for Becky Marx who drove in Nicole Motycka from third. Tiffany Haas would later add a two-out RBI single to left to push the Michigan advantage to 6-0.
Wisconsin got on the scoreboard on its half of the fourth thanks to Vasquez. Despite being not expected to play in the tournament due to a broken rib, Vasquez got the start and launched a leadoff solo home run to left, her second of the season, to get the Badgers within 6-1.
Michigan tacked on four final unearned runs in the top of the fifth. With one on and two out, Giampaolo singled and Merchant followed with an RBI double to center. Samantha Findlay capped the scoring with a three-run homer to right that stayed just inside of the foul pole.
Brock (20-9) took the loss, snapping her 10-game winning streak. In 2.1 innings pitched, she allowed eight hits, five earned runs and one walk while striking out one. Wilson (22-2) earned the victory, surrendering just one run on four hits while fanning six.
Giampaolo and Merchant paced Michigan with three hits apiece.
The Badgers will now be forced to wait and see if they receive an at-large berth to an NCAA Regional. The 64-team field will be announced between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Central time Sunday on ESPNEWS.
Badger freshman designated player Ricci Robben was named to the all-tournament team, thanks in part to going 3 for 3 with two RBI in the semifinal win over Ohio State Friday.
