1999 Michigan Softball

April 4, 1999

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Buckeye Field)
Results: #7 Michigan 10, Ohio State 2
Records: U-M (30-5-1, 3-0 Big Ten), OSU (10-16, 0-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Games: Wednesday, April 7 -- DH at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 2 p.m. CDT

Michigan Blasts OSU to Take Big Ten Weekend Series

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 7-ranked University of Michigan softball completed its three-game sweep of Big Ten Conference season-opening weekend series opponent Ohio State University with a 10-2 win Sunday (April 4) at Buckeye Field.

The eight-run victory not only moved the Wolverines' 1999 record to 30-5-1 (3-0 Big Ten) but extended their season unbeaten streak to 26 games (25-0-1) and pushed their Big Ten regular-season win streak to 13 games dating to April 18, 1998. Ohio State drops to 10-16 (0-3 Big Ten) with the loss.

Michigan led Ohio State 4-0 after three innings but allowed single runs in the middle innings to let the Buckeyes back into the game, 4-2, after five complete. The Michigan bats went to work in the last two innings, scattering nine hits and scoring three runs in both the sixth and seventh, including a two-run home run to left field by Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) in the sixth.

Mika, Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) and Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) finished with three hits apiece in the Wolverines' season-high 17-hit performance. Kosanke and Mika totaled two RBIs each.

The Wolverines got solid relief pitching from sophomore Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS), who entered in the fourth for starter Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS). Barda (11-1) threw four innings, allowing one run and three hits, to earn her second weekend win vs. Ohio State. Toni Hileman (4-12) went the distance for OSU, giving up four walks.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems

Tammy Mika hit her first home run of the season with her two-run left-field shot. It is the senior center fielder's fifth career home run. Mika was a perfect 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run, pair of runs and two RBIs in the Sunday victory, pushing her season batting average to .336.

Pam Kosanke found the Ohio State pitching to her liking, finishing the weekend with a red-hot .750 batting average (6-for-8). The junior third baseman picked up a double, four RBIs and both a sacrifice fly and sacrifice over the three games. . . . Kosanke (26 RBIs) and Tammy Mika (25 RBIs) are second and third behind Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS), who has a team-leading 41 RBIs.

Traci Conrad tallied career double No. 50 with her line shot to right field in the second inning. She is the third Wolverine to reach 50 doubles. . . . Conrad finished the weekend OSU series with six hits and a .600 batting average. The offensive outburst moved the first baseman to the second spot (.376) in the Michigan season hitting statistics behind Catherine Davie, who is hitting .429 (51-of-119).

The three wins vs. Ohio State give Michigan five straight Big Ten season series sweeps, dating to a 3-0 April 18-19, 1998, series vs. Northwestern. . . . The Wolverines are 54-17 all-time against Ohio State on the softball diamond, with U-M head coach Carol Hutchins 41-11 vs. OSU. . . . Michigan finished the Ohio State series batting .494 and outscoring the Buckeyes 29-9. Among the Wolverines' 44 hits were 12 doubles and two home runs. . . . The three-player Michigan pitching staff gave up 19 hits and three walks over the weekend series.

Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins needs one more Big Ten win to reach the 250-win total against regular-season league competition (249-103). Hutchins is five wins shy of her 600th Michigan coaching victory (595-257-2).

Contact: Amy Carlton (734) 763-4423

Last updated: Sunday, 04-Apr-1999 19:37:55 EDT