Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, May 3
Ann Arbor, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7
at
9
Michigan
Nellie Coquillard
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Softball Falls to No. 2 Ranked Michigan, 9-7
5/3/2011 8:34:42 PM | Softball
The Eagles offense cranked out 10 hits in their 9-7 loss to Michigan this evening
Box Score.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) led the Eastern Michigan University softball team this evening with three hits against the No. 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines, as the Eagles fell in an exciting, 9-7 contest at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The loss drops the Eagles' record to 23-14 overall, while the Wolverines improve to 45-4 on the year.
EMU cranked out 10 hits in the contest, and their seven runs ties the most allowed by any U-M opponent this season, matching Illinois' seven-run effort in the Wolverines 9-7 win over the Fighting Illini on April 17.
Richards showcased a stellar 3-for-4 performance at the plate to pace the Eagles offense, scoring three runs with a stolen base and an RBI.
Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) powered in five RBI on two hits, including her fourth round-tripper of the year.
Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) (12-5) went three innings on the mound in just her fifth loss of the season, striking out two on the day. Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) contributed with three innings of solid relief, fanning four batters while giving up just one earned run.
EMU would be first to strike in the game as they registered two hits in the opening frame to take the 1-0 lead.
Richards led off the contest with a single through the right side and advanced to second on her 19th stolen base of the season.
With one out, Coquillard drove an RBI single to shallow left, waving around Richards from second base to tally the go-ahead run.
Michigan's offense threatened in the bottom of the first after loading the bases on two walks and a fielder's choice, but a two-out fly ball to left closed out the inning.
The EMU bats stayed hot in the second, as Kayla Kostich (Taylor, Mich.-Cabrini) stroked a double to the right center field fence to start up the inning. A well placed sacrifice bunt off the bat of Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Central Catholic) pushed Kostich to third base, putting Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) in a situation to plate another EMU run. The freshman shortstop delivered, threading a slow roller through the right side of the infield to score Kostich and give the Green and White a 2-0 advantage.
The Wolverines retaliated with five runs in the bottom of the second on three hits to take a 5-2 lead.
EMU would come back with a frame opening single for the third consecutive inning, this time from Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) pulled a hit to left field. Skodinski swiped second base and advanced to third on a fielder's choice, however Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio) and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) lined out to third base and flew out to left, respectively, to end the inning.
The home team tagged on another run in the third on three hits and an EMU error, increasing their lead to four.
Michigan's Caitlin Blanchard reached base on a muffed throw to first base and would advance to second on a wild pitch. A fielder's choice moved her to third, and back-to-back singles allowed Blanchard to come across for the Wolverines' sixth run of the game.
In the fourth, the U-M offense added another two to the scoreboard on Ashley Lane's two-run shot over the right field fence, resulting in a pitching change for the EMU staff. Wells entered the contest and successfully retired the side to move the game into the fifth.
The Green and White offense chipped away at their six-run deficit in the top of five thanks to two hits and one Michigan error.
Richards connected on a one-out single up the middle for the Green and White and reached second base safely on a Michigan error, leaving runners at first and second for Coquillard.
The Niles, Mich. native took the first pitch offered and blasted a three-run bomb that found its way beyond the right center field fence to cut the Eagles' deficit to three.
Michigan set the score at 9-5 in the sixth with Lane's one-out sacrifice fly to right field, but the Green and White continued to fight in the seventh.
In the top of the the final inning, Richards continued to create problems for the U-M pitching staff, driving her third hit of the game on a double over the left fielder's head to plate Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) who had walked in a previous at bat.
Coquillard drove in Richards for her fifth RBI in the contest on a sacrifice fly to deep left field, bringing pinch hitter Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) to the plate. The junior punched a two-out single through the left side and was followed by a Russ base-knock that hopped over a diving Amy Knapp's glove into center field.
The Eagles would bring the tying run to the plate, however the Wolverines manage to close out the contest and secure the 9-7 victory.
The Eagles will return to action this Thursday, May 5, when they travel to Lansing, Michigan to take on the Spartans of Michigan State. First pitch is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) led the Eastern Michigan University softball team this evening with three hits against the No. 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines, as the Eagles fell in an exciting, 9-7 contest at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The loss drops the Eagles' record to 23-14 overall, while the Wolverines improve to 45-4 on the year.
EMU cranked out 10 hits in the contest, and their seven runs ties the most allowed by any U-M opponent this season, matching Illinois' seven-run effort in the Wolverines 9-7 win over the Fighting Illini on April 17.
Richards showcased a stellar 3-for-4 performance at the plate to pace the Eagles offense, scoring three runs with a stolen base and an RBI.
Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) powered in five RBI on two hits, including her fourth round-tripper of the year.
Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) (12-5) went three innings on the mound in just her fifth loss of the season, striking out two on the day. Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) contributed with three innings of solid relief, fanning four batters while giving up just one earned run.
EMU would be first to strike in the game as they registered two hits in the opening frame to take the 1-0 lead.
Richards led off the contest with a single through the right side and advanced to second on her 19th stolen base of the season.
With one out, Coquillard drove an RBI single to shallow left, waving around Richards from second base to tally the go-ahead run.
Michigan's offense threatened in the bottom of the first after loading the bases on two walks and a fielder's choice, but a two-out fly ball to left closed out the inning.
The EMU bats stayed hot in the second, as Kayla Kostich (Taylor, Mich.-Cabrini) stroked a double to the right center field fence to start up the inning. A well placed sacrifice bunt off the bat of Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Central Catholic) pushed Kostich to third base, putting Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) in a situation to plate another EMU run. The freshman shortstop delivered, threading a slow roller through the right side of the infield to score Kostich and give the Green and White a 2-0 advantage.
The Wolverines retaliated with five runs in the bottom of the second on three hits to take a 5-2 lead.
EMU would come back with a frame opening single for the third consecutive inning, this time from Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) pulled a hit to left field. Skodinski swiped second base and advanced to third on a fielder's choice, however Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio) and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) lined out to third base and flew out to left, respectively, to end the inning.
The home team tagged on another run in the third on three hits and an EMU error, increasing their lead to four.
Michigan's Caitlin Blanchard reached base on a muffed throw to first base and would advance to second on a wild pitch. A fielder's choice moved her to third, and back-to-back singles allowed Blanchard to come across for the Wolverines' sixth run of the game.
In the fourth, the U-M offense added another two to the scoreboard on Ashley Lane's two-run shot over the right field fence, resulting in a pitching change for the EMU staff. Wells entered the contest and successfully retired the side to move the game into the fifth.
The Green and White offense chipped away at their six-run deficit in the top of five thanks to two hits and one Michigan error.
Richards connected on a one-out single up the middle for the Green and White and reached second base safely on a Michigan error, leaving runners at first and second for Coquillard.
The Niles, Mich. native took the first pitch offered and blasted a three-run bomb that found its way beyond the right center field fence to cut the Eagles' deficit to three.
Michigan set the score at 9-5 in the sixth with Lane's one-out sacrifice fly to right field, but the Green and White continued to fight in the seventh.
In the top of the the final inning, Richards continued to create problems for the U-M pitching staff, driving her third hit of the game on a double over the left fielder's head to plate Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) who had walked in a previous at bat.
Coquillard drove in Richards for her fifth RBI in the contest on a sacrifice fly to deep left field, bringing pinch hitter Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) to the plate. The junior punched a two-out single through the left side and was followed by a Russ base-knock that hopped over a diving Amy Knapp's glove into center field.
The Eagles would bring the tying run to the plate, however the Wolverines manage to close out the contest and secure the 9-7 victory.
The Eagles will return to action this Thursday, May 5, when they travel to Lansing, Michigan to take on the Spartans of Michigan State. First pitch is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
Thank You, Team 38
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