1999 Michigan Softball

February 26, 1999

Site: Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Field)
Event: NFCA Leadoff Classic
Results: #5 Michigan 4, #18 Arizona State 2 (8 inn.)
Southwestern Louisiana 5, #5 Michigan 4
Records: U-M (3-4); ASU (12-2); USL (7-0)
Next U-M Games: Saturday, Feb. 27 -- vs. Hofstra at NFCA Leadoff Classic (Columbus, Ga.), 12:30 p.m.

Wolverines Split Pair at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Michigan softball opened defense of its NFCA Leadoff Classic title with a split in day one action Friday (Feb. 26). The No. 5-ranked Wolverines came back to upend No. 18 Arizona State, 4-2, in an eight-inning battle in game one before falling short to Southwestern Louisiana, 5-4, in game two.

Michigan (3-4) finishes pool play vs. Hofstra Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The first two rounds of championship bracket playoffs are scheduled for 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday.

Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) smacked a two-run right field home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Michigan a come-from-behind win vs. Arizona State (12-2). The Wolverines fought back from an early 1-0 deficit, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) run on an ASU error. Arizona State took a short-lived 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth. Michigan tied the game when Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) scored on a Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) flyout to right field.

Wolverine freshman pitcher Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) won her third straight game (3-1), allowing a season-low three hits over eight innings. Kirsten Voak (4-2) took the loss for the Sun Devils.

Southwestern Louisiana (7-0) broke open a 2-2 game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth and forcing Michigan to play catch-up ball in the day's second game. The Wolverines were able to push across single runs in the fifth and sixth.

Conrad and Davie each finished 2-for-4 at the plate, leading the season-high 10-hit Wolverine offense. Starter Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) took the loss (0-2), giving up seven hits and striking-out three over three and one-third innings. Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) threw two and two-third innings in relief. Kim Dunlap (4-0) went the distance for the Lady Cajuns, finishing with four strikeouts and no walks.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

Catherine Davie's eighth inning home run vs. Arizona State is the 13th in her collegiate career. She ranks third on the Michigan all-time home run list behind Melissa Gentile (19/1997-98) and Sara Griffin (14/1995-98). The home run is the first for a Wolverine this season. . . . With hits in both Friday games, Davie extended her hitting streak to four games.

Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) has a team-best five-game hit streak intact after a 2-for-6 opening day at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. . . . Freshman Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) has hit safely in her last four games.

The Wolverines evened their all-time series record vs. Arizona State at 5-5 with the 4-2 victory, but remained winless vs. Southwestern Louisiana (0-4). . . . Arizona State was unable to capitalize on the Michigan insider knowledge of its first-year assistant coach, three-time U-M All-American Sara Griffin (1995-98). . . . Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins moved closer to the 600 career wins mark with the Arizona State victory. Hutchins has 591 career wins, including 568 with the Wolverines. . . . Arizona State is the second straight nationally-ranked team beaten by the Wolverines. U-M defeated No. 20 Florida 4-2 on Feb. 21.

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423

Last updated: Friday, 26-Feb-1999 22:48:22 EST