M Softball loses last game of tourney 3-1, now 29 -2

Submitted by MGoSoftball on

The Univeristy of Michigan softball had an unusual loss today to Fresno St. 3-1. Jordan Taylor was in the circle and took the loss. She gave up 2 HR and 1 triple, all 3 runs were earned.  She had 10 strike out and 2 walks. 

She must have been trying to develop a new pitch.  I will have to go back ion the archives but I cannot find where she allowed 2 HR in a single game at Michigan.

We managed to get 8 hits but just could not put anything together.  Bree Evans went 2 for 4 while scoring the lone run.  Dorian Shaw went 2 for 3 and gets credit for the RBI.  This rally was in the top of the 1st and we did not get any momentum after.

This is basically the half way point for the Wolverines. The Big 10 schedule starts next weekend.  We are now 29-2.  We have 24 game remaining in the Big 10 and various local teams (Central Mi, Eastern Mi, Bowling Green and Western Mi).

We are right about where I thought we would be: 2 losses.  Although I will admit I did not see a loss to Western Ky and Fresno St.  But it is nice to see us with big wins over Notre Dame, Arizona and Arizona St.

 

readyourguard

March 19th, 2011 at 7:24 PM ^

Oh, the humanity.

 

No....

Seriously. 

 

WTH?  We don't lose unless it's to the Swedish Bikini Professional Softball Team.

 

Always appreciative of the updates and info you provide.  Your effort doesn't go unnoticed.

 

MGoSoftball

March 19th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^

but there are a few guys here on MgoBlog that are passionate about M Softball.  The discussion about M Softball is always fun to participate in.  Most people dont care about softball as a varsity sport so it doesnt get the following. 

Overall I am more impressed with the 3 wins over ND, Zona and ASU.  The loss to Fresno State doesnt concern me at all.  I know what Hutch is thinking.  We are right where we need to be.

After the loss, I think we will not lose any ground in the polls.  We would have gained 1 or maybe 2 slots if we won because #4 Washington was mercied.  A mercy rule loss is good enough to drop 2 or 3 slots.    #6 Zona lost twice.  #7 ASU lost twice.  #8 UCLA has 5 losses but they did not play this weekend.  #9 Oklahoma lost twice this weekend.  #10 California had a good weekend in Honolulu.  So they will jump 1 or 2 slots.

It is possible that this loss will not prevent us from climbing to #4. Every team that went out to the Judi Garman Classic got beat up in some form or fashion.  It is no wonder that this tourney is "The One" that everyone one of us softball "geeks" look forward to.

trueblueintexas

March 19th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^

Thanks MGoSoftball, if more people watched softball they would appreciate how fun a really good team is to follow.  Most of my experience has been watching the D3 level (where it's truly about the love of the game), but was able to catch almost all the Michigan games shown on the B1G Network & ESPN starting with the year they beat Texas for the NC. Please keep up the updates and insights.

MGoSoftball

March 19th, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^

when I was a coach of a JC team, the girls were playing their @sses off.  I could see the passion in their eyes.  Most were trying to make it to the D1 level after JC so they really tried.  I had a few girls make it to D2 level.  It was great to see that.

I always say that softball is a cross between chess, gymnastics, and boxing.  You have to be smart, flexible and have excellent eye-hand coordination.

Now that I will be on campus more often, I will attend more games than the usual 1 or 2 per year.  I will try to twitter each game for those that cant attend.

BlueDragon

March 19th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^

Thanks for another great synopsis.  M Softball losing is not fun, but what stands out to me is the 2 HR stat being unprecedented in Ms. Taylor's pitching career at Michigan.  There are MLB pitchers that would do almost anything for a stat line like that.  The technique of batting and covering bases with infielders must be different with such commanding ability from the mound.

MGoSoftball

March 19th, 2011 at 9:20 PM ^

That is what makes me think that she is working on a new pitch that just got away from her.  At the NCAA level, exhibition games are rare.  We have only 1 this year.  These exhibition games allow players and coaches to try different things.

In MLB pitchers work on these in Spring Training.  Sometimes pitcher will go down to the minors in mid-season and work on a few things.  Max Scherzer did it last year if you remember.  He went down to Toledo for a few weeks and when he came back, he was lights out.

NCAA D1 does not have this luxury.  So coaches have to pick a few games out of the year to allow pitchers the opportunity to "play around".  As a coach you just hope that the offense can get some runs to help the pitcher out.  Today was not the case. 

 

South Bend Wolverine

March 20th, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^

In a way, I think it is healthy for us to drop a couple of games.  A perfect softball season just isn't going to happen, so you don't want that pressure on for two long.  Builds a little character, etc., and we won all of our big matchups, a couple in dominating fashion.  We are right in position to take a run at the Big Ten yet again, and hopefully get ready for a good tourney run behind Taylor's pitching & Shaw & Lane's bombing.