University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 8 Michigan Defeats Golden Gopher Softball Team 6-1
4/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
- Box Score
The Golden Gopher softball team (28-19, 7-7) was defeated by eighth-ranked Michigan, 6-1, on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines (42-7, 13-1) improved to 12-0 at home this season as Minnesota dropped to 7-7 in the Big Ten.
Minnesota got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning. Shortstop Melissa Murnane, playing for the injured Rachel Keeney, singled to lead off the inning. After Murnane stole second with two outs, Tonya Mitchell lined a single to right field to move Murnane to third. Freshman Megan Higginbotham delivered an RBI single to left field to give the Golden Gophers the 1-0 lead. It was just the second time in 12 home games that Michigan has allowed a run.
Senior Piper Marten retired the first nine batters she faced in the game, but the Wolverines broke through in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Meghan Doe and Nicole Motycka singled and Jennifer Olds walked to load the bases. Michigan then took the lead on Monica Schock's two-run single to right center. The Wolverines increased the lead as Grace Leutele hit a double to the wall in left field to drive home the third run of the inning.
Michigan tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh inning on two hits, two walks and an error. The Wolverines left the bases loaded as they increased their lead to 6-1.
Marten fell to 17-10 on the season after suffering her third straight loss. Minnesota has scored a total of two runs in her last three starts as Marten remains tied with Steph Klaviter's school record of 84 career victories. Marten allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits in 6.1 innings. She registered seven strikeouts and walked four. Lyn Peyer pitched 0.2 innings of relief and struck out one.
Motycka improved to 16-3 on the season for Michigan after allowing one run on five hits. She had seven strikeouts and did not walk anyone. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Doe finished the game with two hits and an RBI as well.
Murnane recorded two of Minnesota's five hits in her first game batting since Feb. 29.
Minnesota returns home for a Tuesday doubleheader against Wisconsin-Green Bay on Tuesday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
