Site: Evanston, Ill. (Anderson Field)
Result: #6 Michigan 10, Northwestern 3; #6 Michigan 2, Northwestern 0
Records: Michigan (40-6-1, 12-0 Big Ten); NU (24-21, 5-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, April 18 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 1 p.m. CDT

U-M Takes Two at Northwestern, Goes to 12-0 in Big Ten

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan kept its stranglehold on the top spot in the Big Ten Conference softball standings with a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern University on Saturday (April 17). The No. 6-ranked Wolverines won the opener 10-3 and pitched a 2-0 shutout in the second game.

Atop the Big Ten standings with a 12-0 record, Michigan (40-6-1) handed second-place Northwestern (24-21, 5-3 Big Ten) its second and third losses in the last four games. The two teams finish their three-game weekend set with a single game on Sunday (April 18, 1 p.m. CDT).

Third baseman Pam Kosanke (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway Central HS) started Michigan scoring in game one, drilling her first home run of the year -- a two-run line shot to left field -- in the second inning. U-M added two more runs in the third before exploding for four runs in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead.

Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS) led the 10-hit Wolverine offense with three hits. Stefanie Volpe (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Salem HS) tallied two hits, including a triple to open the second inning, and three RBIs. Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) allowed six hits and three walks in a winning effort in the pitching circle, improving to 17-1 for the season. Brooke Siebel (18-12) was the loser.

In the nightcap, the Wolverines scored all the runs they needed in the second inning, then twice stopped Northwestern runners at third base to post their 13th shutout of the season. Kosanke, who reached on a centerfield single, scored Michigan's first run on a wild pitch by Kelly Campbell. A sacrifice fly to leftfield by Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) scored Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) from third base.

Northwestern allowed the Michigan runners no farther than second base the remainder of the game, stranding four Wolverines over the last four innings. Pitcher Jamie Gillies (Saugus, Calif./Saugus HS) went the distance for her sixth season shutout and 12th win in 14 decisions (12-2). Campbell (2-1) took the loss for Northwestern.

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