Following the Speedline Invitational, the No. 5-ranked Wolverines take an 11-day break before resuming their season March 18 at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif.

Michigan Faces Big East Duo for First Time
Michigan competes in its first non-tournament competition on Tuesday, going against a pair of first-time opponents, St. John's and Providence. Both teams opened their 1999 seasons last weekend with the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. (Feb. 26-28). The Wolverines have never met either Big EAST team on the softball diamond, but carries a 12-3 record vs. current Big EAST members.

Twenty-Four Teams in Race for Speedline Title
Michigan joins a field of 24 teams vying for the 1999 Speedline Invitational title, hosted by the University of South Florida at the Greco Complex in Tampa. This season's tournament field features four Big Ten Conference teams -- Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue -- and three 1998 NCAA Women's College World Series participants -- Michigan, Oklahoma State and Texas.

The Wolverines are playing in their third straight Speedline Invitational and in their seventh tournament hosted by USF. Michigan carries a 32-10 record in the early-season South Florida tournaments and is 13-3 over its past two Speedline Invitational appearances. U-M finished runner-up to South Carolina in the 1997 tournament, losing 2-0 in the title game. Last season, the Wolverines dropped a 2-0 game to Texas in the semifinals to place third. Ironically, Michigan came back to face South Carolina in the 1997 Women's College World Series and Texas in the 1998 WCWS, handing both teams losses at the big dance.

Michigan vs. the 1999 Speedline Invitational Field
Alabama -- Ranked No. 19 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. . . . The Crimson Tide are competing in their third varsity softball season. . . . Michigan carries a 3-0 record vs. Alabama, including a 5-3 win in the 1998 Speedline Invitational. . . . U-M pitchers vs. UA: Jamie Gillies 1-0. . . . Web site: roll.tide.ua.edu.

Ball State -- Michigan is 4-1 vs. Ball State, facing the Cardinals twice in the 1998 season. U-M blasted BSU 12-1 (5 inn.) in the opening game of the NCAA Region 3 Championship after squeaking past the Cardinals 1-0 at the early-March Speedline Invitational. . . . U-M pitchers vs. BSU: Jamie Gillies 2-0 (2 SHO). . . . Web site: www.bsu.edu/sports/.

Florida -- Ranked No. 20 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. . . . The teams have already met once in the 1999 season with Michigan posting a 4-2 win (Feb. 21) at the Gators' Louisville Slugger Classic. . . . The Wolverines are 3-0 vs. Florida, besting UF at both the 1997 (1-0) and 1998 (2-1) Speedline Classic. . . . U-M pitchers vs. UF: Kate Eiland 1-0. . . . Web site: gators.uaa.ufl.edu.

Florida A&M -- The Michigan and Florida A&M series is even at 1-1 after the teams split a March 5, 1990 doubleheader in Tallahassee. . . . Web site: www.famu.edu.

Florida Atlantic -- Michigan's first opponent at the 1999 Speedline Invitational. . . . The teams have met just once, a 5-1 U-M win in the 1997 Florida State Lady Seminole Invitational. . . . Web site: FAU.edu/student/athletics.

Florida State -- Michigan pool play opponent. . . . Ranked No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. . . . U-M leads the series 4-1, last facing the FSU in the 1996 Lady Seminole Invitational. . . . Former Wolverine All-American Michelle Bolster (1985-88) is a fourth-year assistant coach with Florida State. . . . Web site: www.seminoles.com.

Georgia -- Michigan pool play opponent. . . . The Wolverines are 1-0 vs. Georgia, winning the first-ever meeting, 4-3, in the 1997 Speedline Invitational. . . . Web site: www.sports.uga.edu.

Hofstra -- Ranked No. 23 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. . . . Michigan and Hofstra will meet for the second straight tournament in pool play action. . . . U-M beat the Flying Dutchwomen, 5-2 (9 inn.), at the NFCA Leadoff Classic (Feb. 27) in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. . . . U-M pitchers vs. HU: Kate Eiland 1-0. . . . Web site: www.HOFSTRA.edu/Sports.

Illinois-Chicago -- Ranked No. 24 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. . . . Illinois-Chicago leads the series vs. Michigan 2-1, with both UIC wins coming at the South Florida Classic (1992, 1993). . . . Web site: www.uic.edu/depts/sports.

Iowa -- Ranked No. 16 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches preseason poll. . . . Iowa carries a 44-29 advantage in the all-time series, but has beaten Michigan just four times in the last10 games (1997-98). . . . U-M pitchers vs. UI: Jamie Gillies 3-0 (1 SHO). . . . Web site: hawkeyesports.com.

Maryland -- Michigan and Maryland have never met in softball. . . . Web site: www.umterps.com.

Michigan State -- Michigan holds a 50-19 lead in the series vs. in-state conference rival Michigan State, including an 8-2 record over the last 10 games. . . . The Wolverines shutout MSU, 5-0, in the 1997 Speedline Invitational. . . . Web site: www.msuspartans.com.

Mississippi -- Michigan and Mississippi have never met in softball. . . . Web site: www.olemisssports.com.

Mississippi State -- Michigan pool play opponent. . . . The Wolverines have met Mississippi State just once, a 2-1 Michigan win at the 1998 Speedline Invitational. . . . Web site: www.msstate.edu/athletics.

New Mexico State -- Michigan has nine wins in the 11-game series vs. New Mexico State. The last time the two teams faced each other was Feb. 19, 1995 at the Arizona State Classic, a 4-3 U-M win which extended the Wolverines' win streak to five games. . . . Web site: www.nmsu.edu/athletics.html.

Oklahoma State -- Ranked No. 15 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll. . . . Oklahoma State leads the series vs. Michigan, 5-1. . . . The teams met twice in 1998, splitting the two games. OSU eliminated U-M from the NCAA Women's College World Series with a 3-1 victory. . . . U-M pitchers vs. OSU: Jamie Gillies 0-1. . . . Web site: www.okstate.com.

Purdue -- Michigan carries an 11-1 record against Big Ten rival Purdue, winning both ends of the 1998 league doubleheader. . . . Former Wolverine assistant coach Carol Bruggeman (1989-93) is in her sixth season as Boilermaker head coach. . . . U-M pitchers vs. PU: Jamie Gillies 1-1. . . . Web site: www.purduesports.com.

South Carolina -- The Michigan-South Carolina softball series is tied 4-4 with U-M getting the last victory at the 1997 NCAA Women's College World Series (1-0). . . . USC handed the Wolverines a 2-0 loss in the 1997 Speedline Invitational championship game. . . . Web site: www.uscsports.com.

South Florida -- Host school for the Speedline Invitational. . . . Ranked No. 6 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll. . . . Michigan holds a 4-3 advantage in the series vs. USF, taking both ends of the 1998 doubleheader in Tampa. . . . U-M pitchers vs. USF: Marie Barda 1-0, Jamie Gillies 1-0. . . . Web site: www.usf.edu.

Temple -- Michigan is 2-0 vs. Temple with both victories coming in Speedline Invitational play (1997, 1998). . . . U-M pitchers vs. TU: Marie Barda 1-0, Jamie Gillies 1-0 (1 SHO). . . . Web site: www.owlsports.com.

Tennessee-Chattanooga -- Michigan and UTC have never met in softball. . . . Current Wolverine assistant coach Jennifer Brundage was an assistant coach with the Lady Mocs 1996-97. . . . Web site: www.utc.edu.

Texas -- Ranked No. 7 in the USA Today /NFCA Coaches poll. . . . The series between Michigan and Texas is tied 1-1 after splits in two 1998 meetings, including a UT win in the Speedline Invitational semifinals. The Wolverines beat Texas, 7-2, in the first round of the NCAA Women's College World Series. . . . U-M pitchers vs. UT: Marie Barda 0-1. . . . Web site: www.TexasSports.com.

Western Michigan -- Michigan has won 26 of the 34 games in the series vs. Western Michigan, including the last nine games. . . . The teams have never faced each other in an early-season tournament. . . . U-M pitchers vs. WMU: Marie Barda 1-0, Jamie Gillies 2-0 (1 SHO). . . . Web site: www.wmich.edu/athletics.

Michigan Third in NFCA Leadoff Silver Division
A pair of Top 25 wins and three extra-inning games highlighted Michigan's weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 26-28. The Wolverines went 3-2 in the tournament, finishing in a third-place tie in the Silver Division. U-M completed pool play Feb. 26-27 upending No. 18 Arizona State 4-2 in eight innings; falling 5-4 to Southwestern Louisiana; and slipping past No. 23 Hofstra 5-2 in nine innings. Michigan beat Colorado State 4-1 in its first round Silver Division playoffs (Feb. 27), before falling 5-4 to No. 18 Arizona State in an eight-inning semifinal battle (Feb. 28).

Conrad Takes Aim at Michigan Career Hits Record
Traci Conrad (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way HS), who is making a habit of rewriting the Michigan career record book, is closing in on the Michigan career hits record. Set less than a year ago when Sara Griffin ended her Wolverine career with 275 hits (1995-98), Conrad enters the third week of her final collegiate season with 270 hits -- two hits behind second-place Kellyn Tate (272/1995-98) and five hits shy of tying Griffin. A senior first baseman and two-time All-American, Conrad already holds the Michigan career runs record (172) and began the year as the all-time batting average leader at .391. She is also in pursuit of the U-M career doubles record. . . The old career hits record of 244 by Patti Benedict (1990-93) stood for four and one-half seasons before Griffin shattered that total mid-season 1998.

Top Five Wolverine Hitters
1.	275	Sara Griffin	1995-98
2.	272	Kellyn Tate	1995-98
3.	270	Traci Conrad	1996-present
4.	244	Patti Benedict	1990-93
5.	240	Alicia Seegert	1984-87

Pair in Pursuit of U-M Doubles Record
Two Michigan seniors -- first baseman Traci Conrad and left fielder Catherine Davie (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) -- are in a race to break the U-M career doubles record. Three-time Wolverine All-American Sara Griffin (1995-98) set the doubles record at 58. Conrad and Davie both passed Tracy Carr (1993-96) who was in second-place with 40 doubles. Both players head into the first week of March with 42 doubles.

Michigan Career Doubles
1.	58	Sara Griffin	1995-98
2.	42	Traci Conrad	1996-present
	42	Catherine Davie	1996-present
4.	40	Tracy Carr	1993-96

Davie Leading Wolverine Offense
After a slow start in the season's first five games, senior Catherine Davie used the Feb. 26-28 NFCA Leadoff Classic to bolt to the top of the Michigan offensive stats. Davie completed the five-game weekend going 9-for-19 (.474) with three extra-base hits and seven RBI. Davie collected her 12th career home run with a game-winning two-run, two-out right field shot in the bottom of the eighth inning vs. No. 18 Arizona State (Feb. 26). Davie's eighth-inning RBI double vs. No. 23 Hofstra (Feb. 27) broke open a scoreless game while her ninth-inning single scored the Wolverines' fifth and final run against the Flying Dutchwomen. With a team-best nine RBI, Davie has 125 RBI for her career, moving into third place on the Michigan career list.

Michigan Career RBI
1.	184	Sara Griffin	1995-98
2.	131	Tracy Carr	1993-96
3.	125	Catherine Davie	1996-present
4.	124	Patti Benedict	1990-93

Hutch & No. 600 Victory
Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins needs seven more wins to post her 600th coaching victory. Hutch carries a 593-268-1 (.689) record in 16 seasons of collegiate coaching (1 season at Ferris State, 15 seasons at Michigan). She will become the 26th person at any NCAA divisional level to reach the 600-win milestone, following Southern Illinois' head coach Kay Brechtelsbauer, who nabbed her 600th career win Feb. 27 with a 2-1 win vs. Boston College at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

Hot Freshman Hurler
First-year Wolverine pitcher Kate Eiland (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) is the hot hurler on the staff. Eiland picked up three wins at the Feb. 26-27 NFCA Leadoff Classic, including two vs. nationally ranked opponents (No. 18 Arizona State, No. 23 Hofstra). Coupled with a pair of victories in the season-opening Louisville Slugger Classic, Eiland put together a string of five straight wins before taking a 5-4 loss to Arizona State in the tournament's Silver Division semifinal (Feb. 28). The freshman carries a team-best 1.79 ERA, 5-2 record and 18 strikeouts.

Hot Freshman Hitter
Freshman Kelsey Kollen (Cerritos, Calif./Mater Dei HS) has made a smooth transition to collegiate softball. Starting all 10 games at second base, Kollen is third among Michigan hitters with a .282 batting average, going 11-for-39 at the plate. Her five RBI are second behind team leader Catherine Davie's nine RBI. Kollen collected her career-first triple with a left-field line shot vs. Colorado State Feb. 27 which scored the game-winning run in the Wolverines' 4-1 victory. Kollen leads the Wolverines with six stolen bases.

Barda Solid in the Circle
Pitcher Marie Barda (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South HS) put together her best game of the season vs. No. 23 Hofstra (Feb. 27). Barda started the game and threw six and two-thirds innings of no-hit ball and a career-high six strikeouts before being relieved in the seventh. Barda (0-1) carries a career-low 1.88 ERA into the month of March.

Maize 'n Blue Diamond Gems
-- The first regular-season USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll will be released Wednesday (March 3). The poll can be found in USA Today or on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association web site, www.nfca.org.

-- Sophomore Chrissy Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) recorded her career-first RBI vs. Colorado State Feb. 27. Garza has made three starts in nine games this season.

-- Catherine Davie carries a team-best seven-game hit streak into the month of March. Freshman Kelsey Kollen follows with hits in each of her last five games while Traci Conrad is in the midst of a four-game hit streak.

-- Barring weather cancellations, the Wolverines will play their 1,100th softball game with the March 4 Speedline Invitational opener vs. Florida Atlantic. Michigan carries a 733-636-1 record in its 22 seasons of varsity softball.

-- Kim Bugel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) put together her first multiple-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 showing vs. No. 23 Hofstra Feb. 27. Included is her season-first double. It is the sixth time in her career that Bugel has had a two-hit game and the fourth time she has doubled.

-- Tammy Mika (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) is a perfect 5-for-5 in the stolen bases category. The senior center fielder had a season-best six-game hit streak stopped by Colorado State (Feb. 27).

-- Sophomore right fielder Melissa Taylor (Deerfield, Mich./Summerfield HS) needs one hit to record her 50th Michigan career hit.

-- Shortstop Rebecca Tune (Aloha, Ore./Jesuit HS) broke out of a hitting slump with a single vs. Colorado State (Feb. 27) and a single and double vs. No. 18 Arizona State (Feb. 28). Tune had gone hitless in five games.

-- Junior outfielder Lisa Beard (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea HS) has left the Michigan team for personal reasons.

  Contact: Amy Carlton, Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423

Last updated: Tuesday, 02-Mar-1999 13:31:51 EST