University of Louisville
Michigan (LOUISVILLE TOURNAMENT)
Ninth-Ranked Michigan Edges Softball 4-3 in Eight Innings
March 15, 2008 | Softball
March 15, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The ninth-ranked Michigan softball team edged the University of Louisville 4-3 in eight innings Saturday afternoon in the Louisville Softball Tournament. U of L falls to 10-9 while Michigan improves to 20-2.
The Cards struck in the third inning when Melissa Roth delivered a two-out single, stole second and scored on Sarah Totten's base hit.
As a light, but steady rain began to fall, in the fourth, the Wolverines threatened. Angela Findlay reached on a fielder's choice and Samantha Findlay and Maggie Viefhaus drew back to back walks to load the bases with two outs. Louisville starter Kristen Wadwell retired Nikki Nemitz to get out of the jam.
Wadwell continued her strong pitching, retiring the next seven batters before Samantha Findlay led off the top of the seventh with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Viefhaus sacrificed her over to third and a Louisville error allowed Findlay to cross the plate, tying the game at 1-1.
The Cards went down in order in the home half of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
Michigan started the eighth in the international tiebreaker with pinch-runner Michelle Weatherdon placed at second. She was safe at third when Teddi Ewing reached on a fielder's choice and came home on a passed ball to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead. Molly Bausher delivered a hit and Alessandra Giampaolo's RBI single plated Ewing. Bausher and Giampaolo advanced on Angela Findlay's sacrifice bunt and Samantha Findlay was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out in the inning. Viefhaus drew a walk to score Bausher, making it a 4-1 game.
Christina Roesel was placed at second as the Cards started the eighth. She moved to third when Kristi Cunningham reached on an error and scored on another Wolverine miscue on the play. Cunningham ended up at third and came home on Sarah Totten's groundout to pull U of L within one run and two outs in the inning. Michigan reliever Jordan Taylor got the save by retiring the final batter.
Nemitz (8-1) allowed one earned run and four hits while striking out seven to get the win. The Wolverines had four hits and were led by Giampaolo's 2 for 4 performance at the plate.
Wadwell (5-6) took the loss, allowing four unearned runs on four hits and striking out three in eight innings. Sarah Totten went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI to pace the Cards offensively.
The rain continues to fall Saturday, placing the rest of the tournament on a rain delay. Minnesota and Miami (Ohio) will attempt to play a 6 p.m. game Saturday evening.
