Softball tops OSU

Familiar results in an unfamiliar setting - that was the theme this past weekend as the Michigan softball team swept Ohio State in a three-game home series against the Buckeyes. While winning isn't new for the Wolverines (8-0 Big Ten, 29-3 overall), the locale was. The Wolverines played at home for the first time since April 27, 1997.

Although the Buckeyes (2-6, 14-14) are a young, inexperienced team, it was a series in which Michigan needed seven innings to put them away in all three games, as resilience and experience ultimately prevailed.

This was especially true yesterday when the Wolverines were trailing, 3-2, heading into the bottom of the sixth. With two out, Michigan's Tammy Mika singled and then stole second, leaving it up to freshman shortstop Rebecca Tune to bring her home. After Tune reached base, Mika pulled a double steal, bringing Mika in for the run. It was a dramatic moment as Mika slid past home plate and reached back to score the run and tie the game. With the go-ahead run on second, pinch hitter Kellyn Tate hit a line drive up the middle, allowing Tune to come home.

Senior Sara Griffin pulled out her third victory of the weekend, extending her record to a perfect 18-0.

"I knew when we scored the runs that we had it," Griffin said. "Up till then it was a little shaky, but after the sixth, I knew that it was just up to me to finish it out."

Griffin finished with a bang, striking out the only three batters she faced in the seventh.

"I think my team's a fighting team," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "We don't always play beautiful softball, but I'll take a team that fights like them any day.."

Griffin is one of the players who fought the hardest this weekend. She pitched two complete games and closed out the third. After Saturday's doubleheader, Griffin's earned-run average was .96. But Griffin still is not satisfied.

"I'm not where I want to be yet," Griffin said. "It gives a pitcher a lot of confidence when she's got a great defense behind her, so we're doing well."

But I haven't peaked yet. I'd like to do better. I can feel it starting to pick up."

While Griffin may not consider her play remarkable, her numbers prove otherwise. She had 11 strikeouts yesterday.

"She's really working hard, we just count on her," Hutchins said.

"There's no question that we have been pitching her a lot, but if we can get at least one game out of her each series, that'd be great. It's not unusual in softball to see pitchers pitch a lot of games in a row, but we need to get (Jamie) Gillies and (Marie) Barda in there again."

Yesterday's offensive spark was provided by Melissa Gentile, who breathed life into the initially sluggish Wolverines and their fans. In the bottom of the third, Michigan was trailing 2-0 when Traci Conrad singled. The next batter up was Gentile who hit a deep drive into left field for a double, allowing Conrad to score.

Gentile also played a key role on Saturday. In the first game, she advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth. An intentional walk to Griffin loaded the bases for Cathy Davie, who then drove home three runs with a double, breaking a scoreless tie.

In the second game, Gentile drove home centerfielder Lisa Kelley for the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie. Davie then stepped up and drove home Gentile for the insurance run, making it 5-3. Once again, that was all the Wolverines needed.

Just minutes earlier, Davie made an incredible throw from left field to stop the Buckeyes from taking the lead.

Ohio State's Candace Kollen flied to left field in an attempt to score Toni Hielman. But Davie's throw was a dart to cutoff man Pam Kosanke, and Hileman was forced to remain at third. Griffin, who replace Gillies earlier in the inning, struck out centerfielder Cheryl Palaroan to end the rally.

That series of events proved to be crucial in the next inning, when Davie helped the Wolverines finally pull away.

Besides the two teams, there was another major player who made her presence known on the diamond Saturday - Mother Nature. Strong winds made the motion of the ball fairly unpredictable.

And another factor was the pitching of Ohio State's freshman Kristi Martin, who had two good games even though she did not record the win.

Martin had an impressive changeup that fooled Michigan hitters time and time again.

04-06-98