M SB wins 2 today, Sweeps series against ohio
The Michigan Softball team had its best series of the year, this weekend in Columbus. We smoked them Friday 10-2, then took 2 from them today 11-4 and 6-5.
Sara Driesenga started the first game and went the distance. She finished the game with 4 ER off 5 hits. She struck out 4 and walked 5. She also went 3 for 5 at the plate.
The offense is clicking in mid-season form by scrapping up 16 hits. Yes, that is correct. I said 16 (sixteen) hits. Chiddy led the way with a 2 for 3 performance and getting 3 RBIs and scoring 2 runs. Colie game out of her mini-slump by going 4 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Ashley, Lyndsay and Steph Kirkpatrick each had 2 hits.
The second game was a little closer but not as close as the score would indicate. Haylie got the start and had a complete game. Things were a little rough on Haylie in the first inning. She had one pitch she which she could have back. It was a meat-ball for ohio 1B Evelyn Carrillo, who sent it for a ride for a grand slam. After that 1st inning, Haylie settled in and pitched a wonderful game. She ended up with 4 ER off 5 hits. She struck out 4 and walked 3.
The offense was led by Amy Knapp. She was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and 1 run scored. Bree Evans went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored. We had 3 errors in the second game which can't make Coach happy.
Now I can say that we are starting to get on track. ohio is a very good team this year. They will finish in the top half of the B1G. We should have swept Indiana last week too but that is how things go. Great job ladies. Keep up the good work. We never lost faith in you.
I just hope everyone on this board realizes that we have an icon for a coach. She is the best and I would not trade her for anyone including Candreas.
purdue lost also so Michigan is now at the top of the B1G.
Q: are the pitchers in the Big Ten just down this year versus those we were going up against late in the travel season? Or did the bats just come alive ridiculously when they came home?
As far as teams with elite pitchers, Minnesota is the only one in the Big Ten. The bats are more alive against an "average" pitcher, but there aren't any elite pitchers shutting batters down in B1G play besides Minnesota's.
By the way, even hitting against an average pitcher is an improvement over earlier, which was truly schizophrenic.
Minnesota did not pitch well enough to hold on to a 10-2 lead yesterday, even with their best pitcher in to try to save the game. I think Michigan is in good shape for the Big Ten (knock on wood). I am back to thinking that Nebraska may be their main threat.
The first innings of both games were rough, though. I can hardly believe that D1 softball can have so many walks and hit batters.
I would also note that MSU won the battle for the basement.
She's dropped off a little lately, but she has a 1.12ERA with 145IP, good for number fourteen nationally. That's really, really good.
But they have already lost 6 conference games. I think they play a lot of freshmen, so maybe the unearned runs are the problem.
That's the issue with MGB's team as well. They're one of the top teams nationally in ERA, but are averaging way too many unearned runs that have led to the majority of their losses.
The pitching has caught fire AND thebats came alive.
This is HUGE win for Michigan..I think we all knew that this would probably be a rare rebuilding year for Hutch and the Wolverines...This series sweep AT Ohio St is just HUGE...Its sets us up good for the remainder of the year and a possible 5th straight B10 Title..
Mich does not play Neb, Iowa, or NW this year...the remainder of the season will be mostly lower echelon B10 teams. OSU is a top B10 team and to sweep them on the road in the manner in which they did just cant be understated.
GO BLUE
this is a very big win; not for the standings, but for the confidence for the freshmen. ohio is a top tier'd team this year. A sweep will go a long way to solidifying the tenderness of the NCS.
We still need to run the table in hopes of getting a #1 seed and host the regionals. Any more losses will knock them out (IMO).
OHIO STATE