Source: Mgoblue.com
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:04:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:05:18 PM EST
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:04:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:05:18 PM EST
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- A late-inning solo home run proved the difference as the No. 7-ranked University of Michigan softball team dropped a 1-0 nail biter to top-ranked Florida in round two of the Women's College World Series on Friday evening (May 29) in front of a WCWS single-session record 8,323 fans at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The loss places Michigan in the WCWS losers' bracket, where U-M will cross over to the top half and face the winner of the Georgia/Missouri game at 6 p.m. CDT tomorrow (Saturday, May 30). The elimination game will air live on ESPN. The Bulldogs and Tigers square off tomorrow at 11 a.m. CDT.
Florida ace Stacey Nelson claimed the pitchers' duel, striking out nine while holding the Wolverines to a season-low one hit. Junior LHP Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) took the loss in relief, halting her win streak at 16 games with a four-strikeout, two-hit performances through 2.2 innings.
Sophomore RHP Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) was solid in the start, striking out five while scattering three hits through 4.1 innings. Taylor struggled to hit the outside corner, walking three for just the fifth time this season. She allowed a leadoff walk in the second and fell behind 2-0 in the subsequent at bat, drawing pitching coach Jennifer Brundage to the mound. After the exchange, Taylor struck out the side on 11 pitches.
It was Taylor's third walk -- with one down in the fifth -- that induced the Wolverine pitching change with two Florida runners on base. After a full-count groundout, Nemitz intentionally walked the bases full, and the strategy worked as rightfielder Kelsey Bruder went down swinging on four pitches.
The Gators' game-winning hit came in their next turn at the plate as shortstop Megan Bush led off the sixth with a solo shot, bombing the 2-1 pitch deep over the fence in left centerfield. Nemitz responded to the home run -- her 14th allowed this season -- by striking out two of the next three faced, but the Wolverines were unable to rally at the plate.
Freshman outfielder Bree Evans (Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) initiated the Wolverines' lone scoring threat in the fourth, collecting her team's only hit with a first-pitch bloop to shortstop. Junior rightfielder Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) joined her on the base path after Nelson fielded her first-pitch bunt and unsuccessfully attempted to throw out Evans at second base, and freshman utility player Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini HS) wasted little time before moving both into scoring position on a first-pitch sac bunt of her own. With the go-ahead run just 60 feet away and one out, U-M could not capitalize as Nelson fanned back-to-back batters to get out of the jam.
Nelson grew stronger as the game wore on, retiring Michigan's final 11 batters in order. She needed just seven pitches to set down the side in the seventh.
The loss places Michigan in the WCWS losers' bracket, where U-M will cross over to the top half and face the winner of the Georgia/Missouri game at 6 p.m. CDT tomorrow (Saturday, May 30). The elimination game will air live on ESPN. The Bulldogs and Tigers square off tomorrow at 11 a.m. CDT.
Florida ace Stacey Nelson claimed the pitchers' duel, striking out nine while holding the Wolverines to a season-low one hit. Junior LHP Nikki Nemitz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Regina HS) took the loss in relief, halting her win streak at 16 games with a four-strikeout, two-hit performances through 2.2 innings.
Sophomore RHP Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) was solid in the start, striking out five while scattering three hits through 4.1 innings. Taylor struggled to hit the outside corner, walking three for just the fifth time this season. She allowed a leadoff walk in the second and fell behind 2-0 in the subsequent at bat, drawing pitching coach Jennifer Brundage to the mound. After the exchange, Taylor struck out the side on 11 pitches.
It was Taylor's third walk -- with one down in the fifth -- that induced the Wolverine pitching change with two Florida runners on base. After a full-count groundout, Nemitz intentionally walked the bases full, and the strategy worked as rightfielder Kelsey Bruder went down swinging on four pitches.
The Gators' game-winning hit came in their next turn at the plate as shortstop Megan Bush led off the sixth with a solo shot, bombing the 2-1 pitch deep over the fence in left centerfield. Nemitz responded to the home run -- her 14th allowed this season -- by striking out two of the next three faced, but the Wolverines were unable to rally at the plate.
Freshman outfielder Bree Evans (Bloomington, Calif./Rialto HS) initiated the Wolverines' lone scoring threat in the fourth, collecting her team's only hit with a first-pitch bloop to shortstop. Junior rightfielder Angela Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS) joined her on the base path after Nelson fielded her first-pitch bunt and unsuccessfully attempted to throw out Evans at second base, and freshman utility player Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich./Cabrini HS) wasted little time before moving both into scoring position on a first-pitch sac bunt of her own. With the go-ahead run just 60 feet away and one out, U-M could not capitalize as Nelson fanned back-to-back batters to get out of the jam.
Nelson grew stronger as the game wore on, retiring Michigan's final 11 batters in order. She needed just seven pitches to set down the side in the seventh.
