Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MICHIGAN
#13 Michigan Stops Falcons, 4-1
April 03, 2002 | Softball
April 3, 2002
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Lisa Mack had a pair of RBI hits as the University of Michigan recorded a 4-1 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team Wednesday afternoon (April 3). The game was held at U-M's Alumni Field.
With the victory, the host Wolverines, ranked 13th in the nation, improve to 25-7 on the season. The Falcons drop to 11-13-1 on the year.
Michigan broke on top with a second-inning run off Falcon junior McKenna Houle. Marissa Young drew a one-out walk, and moved to second when Jessica Merchant walked with two away. Then, Mack singled up the middle to score Young.
The Falcons came right back with a run off U-M starter Nicole Motycka in the third inning. Senior Natalie Phillips singled off Motycka's glove to start the inning, and took second on a wild pitch. A groundout by junior shortstop Libby Voshell moved Phillips to third, but Motycka induced the next batter to ground into the second out, with Phillips forced to hold. Then, however, senior Holly Frantz doubled into the gap in right-center to tie the score.
The hosts regained the lead in the fourth, as Melinda Moulden led off with a single, took second on a Merchant sacrifice bunt, and scored on Mack's double.
The margin remained a single run until the home half of the sixth. Young drew a leadoff walk, and pinch-runner Mary Conner moved to second when Moulden was hit by a pitch. After Merchant's second sac bunt moved the runners over, Mack came to the plate again.
Mack hit a liner off Houle's shin, but the BG pitcher picked up and ball and threw her out at first, with the runners holding. The next batter, Motycka, hit a grounder up the middle. Voshell made a diving stop directly behind second base and threw from her knees, but Motycka was able to beat the throw to first as Conner scored. The next batter, Kelsey Kollen, beat out a grounder to third base for a single as Moulden scored the game's final run.
Houle took the loss, falling to 4-6 on the year. She threw a complete-game six-hitter, walking five batters and striking out a pair.
Motycka earned the win for the Wolverines to improve to 12-2 on the year. She allowed six hits while walking one and fanning one. Meghan Ritter pitched the seventh inning for her first save of the year. She allowed one hit and issued a walk.
At the plate, junior Kandice Machain had two hits for the Brown and Orange. Machain, the reigning MAC East Division Player of the Week, is hitting .529 (9-for-17) in her last five games.
The Falcons are scheduled to begin a seven-game homestand with a Thursday (April 4) doubleheader against Cleveland State University. Start time is 3:00 p.m. at the BGSU Softball Field.
