Gillies near-perfect to stop Iowa

For the balance of the season, the fortunes of the Michigan softball team depended on the G's. With the combination of pitcher Sara Griffin's 31-1 record and catcher Melissa Gentile's 12 home runs, the second-ranked Wolverines have compiled a 52-5 record.

But this weekend, the two G's weren't enough, and Iowa placed Michigan in the loser's bracket Friday with a 1-0 victory over Griffin. Instead of folding, Michigan placed its hope on the shoulders of a third G - sophomore pitcher Jamie Gillies. And Gillies didn't disappoint.

JOSH KLEINBAUM/Daily Michigan pitcher Jamie Gillies had one of her best days ever - two wins, one run, five hits over 12 innings.

Gillies, overshadowed by Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Griffin the whole season, broke out of that shadow Saturday evening, defeating Iowa twice to help the Wolverines grab their fourth consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship.

"Gillies did a real nice job to hold us to the one run, and then to turn around and come back and pitch as long as she did," Iowa coach Gayle Blevins said.

In the first game against the Hawkeyes, who had not yet lost in the tournament, Gillies gave up an early run, and it looked as if Griffin might have to go back in.

But Gillies fought back, shutting out the Hawkeyes the rest of the way and opening the way for the Michigan offense to pepper Iowa's Leticia Castellon for five sixth-inning runs in the 6-1 victory. Gillies only allowed three hits and retired 10 of the Hawkeyes' last 12 batters.

Gillies, as impressive as she was in the first game, saved her best for the sudden-death championship game against the Hawkeyes that followed. She retired the first 15 Iowa batters, bringing a perfect game into the sixth inning.

"Mum was the word in the dugout," Gentile said of the team's mood as Gillies' no-hit bid progressed. "If anyone had said anything they would have gotten popped."

The Hawkeyes finally popped a couple of singles through the Wolverines' defense in the sixth and broke up Gillies' bid for perfection, but Gillies had played her role well enough. She left the game and Griffin wrapped up a 5-1 victory.

With a 16-2 record on the season, Gillies was not exactly a liability coming into this weekend's play. She seems to save her best for Iowa, only giving up one run in three games against the Hawkeyes this season.

The Hawkeyes "have always been our big rivals, and I think everyone just steps up for a challenge," Gillies said.

If there was one possible knock against the Wolverines this season, it was their pitching depth. Coaches, reporters and maybe even opponents wondered if Michigan was vulnerable once Griffin was out of the pitching circle.

This weekend not only reaffirmed Michigan's depth, it also added another G to the Wolverines' list of big-time players - Gillies.

05-11-98