April 26, 2003
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Saturday afternoon's meeting between No. 16 Michigan and Purdue had upset written all over it, but UM picked up a 3-2 win, after eeking out three unearned runs in the fifth inning. Purdue led 2-0 going into the inning, until an error sparked the Wolverine rally.
Purdue put the Wolverines down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, then went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the inning on a pair of walks and a base hit. Pitcher Nicole Motycka beaned senior Angi Roembke with one out to give the Boilermakers a base runner. Roembke then advanced to second on a passed ball, before Andrea Hillsey joined her on the bases with a Motycka free pass. Senior Heidi Foster lofted the next pitched down the left field line to drive for an RBI single.
The Boilermakers struck again in the third with a two-out rally. Hillsey reached after the third baseman overthrew first on a ground ball and advanced to second on the play. Foster followed with another RBI single into left field.
Michigan finally found an answer in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs, all unearned on a pair of hits and an error. Marissa Young hit a grounder that rolled past the third baseman into left field to start the inning. Stephanie Bercaw came in to pinch run, before Boilermaker pitcher Leighann Burke walked her mound foe Motycka. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, the first of a pair of outs, which should have ended the inning. Instead, pinch hitter Jennifer Olds came to the plate and drilled a double into the right center gap, scoring two to tie the game. The Wolverine rally continued as Meghan Doe singled into left center to drive in Olds from second and give Michigan the lead. A ground ball ended the inning.
Freshman Diana LaRiva entered the game to pitch with one out in the sixth inning and retired the side with a strike out and foul out. LaRiva and the defense continued their success in the seventh, taking the Wolverines out in order, putting the Boilermakers' fate in their own hands. Unfortunately, a strikeout and two pop ups later, the Wolverines clinched the victory.
Motycka picked up the win, despite allowing two runs, while Young picked up the save for her role in the last three innings. Burke was hit with the loss, dropping her 18-11 on the year.
Foster posted two of the team's four hits in the contest, also picking up a pair of RBI.
The Boilermakers will look to get back on a win streak when they travel to East Lansing for a Sunday doubleheader.