Many call it killer instinct. Others call it bearing down in the clutch. Currently, the Michigan softball team is struggling to bring runners home from scoring position.
Yesterday's second game was a good news-bad news situation for the Wolverines at the plate. The good news: Michigan's leadoff hitters reached base in five-straight innings. Eleven hitters reached base against Central Michigan starter Anne Foster.
The bad news: Michigan batters stranded runners at third in all five innings in a 5-3 loss to Central.
"In my opinion, you have to swing at a good pitch and, you know, make good contact," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "You (as a hitter) are always supposed to focus on hitting the ball hard."
In total, Michigan stranded 10 runners in the second game. Twice, Michigan hitters came to the plate with the bases loaded. Twice, Michigan failed to capitalize.
In the second inning, catcher Jen McKittrick came up with three Wolverines on base and one out. After running the count to 3-1, McKittrick hit an easy grounder to Central's third baseman Dawn Thompson. Thompson started an inning-ending five-two-three double play to extinguish the Michigan threat.
The Wolverines tallied two runs in the bottom of the third inning, but the damage could have been much greater.
Traci Conrad was caught in a rundown between third and home. After Melissa Gentile and Lisa Kelley singled, the bases were loaded for Jessica Lang.
Instead of applying the knockout punch to Foster and ending the inning with a bang, Lang hit a roller to Thompson who threw her out at first to end the threat.
"They knew what their focus was supposed to be, making solid contact," Hutchins said. "In my opinion, they just didn't get it done, and when you don't get it done, you lose."
Unfortunately for the Wolverines, hitting was not the only area where they failed to finish off Central.
Freshman pitcher Jamie Gillies did a fine job of getting the first two outs of innings, but the third was much tougher.
Gillies allowed Thompson to knock in the second run of the game with a two-out single.
That was just the start. Gillies allowed four of her five runs with two outs in her four innings.
"With two strikes and two outs, (Gillies) has got to be able to shut the door to an inning," Hutchins said. "When she gets that done, she'll be a better pitcher."
This is not to say that the doubleheader was without its positives for the Wolverines.
Michigan's defense was outstanding. The Wolverines had their first error-free doubleheader since March 29 against Wisconsin.
It was the Michigan defense and the pitching of senior Kelly Holmes that kept the day from being a total wash for the Wolverines.
Holmes continued to sparkle as she did not allow a run to score in her 10 innings yesterday. Holmes has now pitched in the last dozen games for Michigan.
"I think Holmes did a great job," Hutchins said. "And she'll be rested for two days."
But if Michigan is to return to the top of the Big Ten standings, it must improve on its 2-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position in the second game.
Michigan also struggled to deliver clutch hits in the first game as hitters left three runners in scoring position. If Holmes had not pitched a magnificent three-hit shutout, Michigan would be staring at a two-game losing streak. Instead, the Wolverines have a simple goal: to come through in the clutch.
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Kelly Holmes has been a positive for the Michigan softball team lately. Yesterday against Central Michigan, she did not allow a run in her 10 innings on the mound.