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Streaking Wolverine softball squad travels to Tennessee

It appears that Mother Nature is not quite ready for softball season -- even in Tennessee.

The Michigan softball team heads to snowy Knoxville, Tenn., today, for this weekend's Tennessee tournament.

Although it snowed a few inches there yesterday, a Tennessee spokesperson remains optimistic about the tournament.

"It snowed a week ago before a tournament here, and we played," he said. "We might have to change a lot of things around, but I think we'll play."

So, weather permitting, the No. 10 Wolverines, up five spots in yesterday's coach's poll, will face a crop of unranked teams beginning with Southwest Missouri and Morehead State tomorrow. Michigan (16-7) faces Indiana State and Tennessee, Saturday and Austin Peay, Sunday.

Tennessee, a first-year program, boasts the best record of the bunch at 17-7.

Thus far, the Wolverines have lived up to expectations following last season's seventh-place finish in the Women's College World Series.

A big key to this season's early success has been the pitching of junior Kelly Holmes and sophomore Sara Griffin.

Last weekend, the two combined for a school-record six consecutive shutouts, including a no-hitter by Holmes against then-No. 20 Illinois-Chicago.

Earlier in the season, Griffin recorded a perfect game against then-No. 10 Oklahoma.

"One of the reasons we were picked to do well in preseason polls is because we have two number one pitchers, not a 1-2 punch," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said.

The Wolverines' bats are nothing to sneeze at either.

Junior utility player Jessica Lang and sophomore outfielder Kellyn Tate are both hitting over .400, while Michigan is batting .382 as a team.

While the Wolverines are performing well, Hutchins says there are still things to work on in what will be the last of four early season weekend tournaments.

"Our team needs to continue to get better at communicating with each other and hitting the ball harder with runners in scoring position," Hutchins said.

The tournament and next week's trip to Notre Dame will serve as the final tuneups for the Big Ten season which begins next weekend.

"We've got a lot of talent," Hutchins said. "The key to being successful is to gel together."