All the superlatives have been exhausted. Great, wonderful, unbelievable - they've all been used. The easiest way to describe the Michigan softball team is with four words - 28-game unbeaten streak.
The Wolverines will put their streak on the line this weekend in a three-game series against Minnesota.
The Golden Gophers come to Ann Arbor ranked 22nd in the country with a 28-10 record. They will be looking to hand Michigan its first loss since March 2.
On the heels of a doubleheader sweep of Purdue on Wednesday, Michigan has run its record to 32-5-1 and climbed to No. 6 in the polls. Michigan's highest ranking of the season was fifth in the preseason poll.
Blanking Purdue was not as easy as some of Michigan's games have been. The Boilermakers took Michigan to 11 innings in the second game before losing, 3-2. In response to the large number of games the team has played as of late, Michigan coach Carol
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| FILE PHOTO The Michigan softball team brings in a 28-game unbeaten streak into its weekend battles with Minnesota. |
"We should be OK," freshman Stefanie Volpe said. "It was just a really long bus trip, but anytime you play 11 innings you're going to be tired."
The Wolverines' best weapon, their trio of pitchers, has gotten better as the season has progressed - a scary thought for opposing batters.
Junior Marie Barda improved her record to 12-1 with her fifth shutout of the season in the first game against Purdue.
Not to be outdone, Kate Eiland and Jamie Gillies hold 11-2 and 9-2 records, respectively.
Opponents are batting a paltry .215 against the three hurlers.
Michigan's opponents have not been able to silence the Wolverines' bats quite as effectively. Michigan is tearing into opposing pitching at a .329 clip.
They are led by leftfielder Catherine Davie's .421 batting average and .722 slugging percentage. Davie also leads the team with 5 homeruns and 41 RBIs.
Although Michigan managed only 17 hits in its two games against Purdue, Volpe said the lack of production doesn't worry the Wolverines.
"The hits came at the right time," Volpe said. "Coach doesn't care how many hits we get, she cares when we get them."
For Michigan to stretch its unbeaten streak to an amazing 31 games, they need to win a series of games that will be the Wolverines' toughest test since the Iowa doubleheader. Michigan beat Iowa 2-0 and tied them 2-2 in eight innings.
And if the streak reaches those lofty heights, don't expect the Wolverines to talk about it.
If they talk about it at all, they won't use words like great, wonderful or unbelievable to describe it. They'll tell you they are just going about their business.
"We don't talk about it at all, actually," Volpe said of the unbeaten streak. "We just try and focus on our Big Ten games."
Who:
No. 6 Michigan vs.
No. 22 Minnesota
Where:
Alumni Field
When: 1 p.m. Sat. (DH), 1 p.m. Sun.
The Latest: Michigan looks to extend its unbeaten streak.
04-09-99
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