April 4, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 10 Michigan Wolverines used timely hits and strong pitching in a 3-1 over the Boilermaker softball team in Game 1 of Saturday's twin bill.
A pair of home runs accounted for the Wolverine runs, while pitcher Nikki Nemitz struck out 14 Boilermakers in the win.
Purdue scored its one run on three hits and two UM errors, while Michigan managed three runs on seven hits. Nemitz moved to 16-5 on the season with the complete game victory, while sophomore Suzie Rzegocki struck out two in the loss for Purdue.
Amanda Chidester put the Wolverines on the board with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. The long ball plated Angela Findlay, who had reached on a one-out single up the middle.
Junior Jenna Alexander tallied Purdue's first hit of the game with a one-out single to left in the second inning, but was left stranded by a pair of strikeouts.
The Boilermakers got one run back on a hit and a Wolverine error in the third. Junior Liane Horiuchi lifted a two-out single into left center, then stole second, setting the table for the Purdue score. Senior Candace Curtis rolled a grounder toward first base, but second baseman Steph Kirkpatrick overran the ball in a fielding attempt, allowing the speedy Horiuchi to scurry home.
Michigan made it 3-1 as Findlay launched a solo shot over the center field wall in the third. The Wolverines put two more on with a double and a single, but the Boilermaker defense held strong.
With two outs in the fifth, senior Kelly Miller lasered a ball at the third baseman, who slapped it down and into foul territory, allowing Miller to reach safely. She then stole second, but was stranded by a strikeout.
Curtis sent a single through the left side to put the leadoff runner on in the sixth. She then stole second, but could not score thanks to a pop up and two strikeouts.
The Boilermakers went down in order in the seventh on two pop ups and a strikeout to seal the Michigan win.
Purdue (18-11, 3-2 Big Ten) look to get revenge in Game 2 of the doubleheader, which is slated for a 4:30 p.m. start.