Michigan softball swept by Tennessee and eliminated from the NCAA tournament
A single tear slowly dropped down Carol Hutchins’ left cheek, all the emotion from a season falling down from her eyes.
Her season finished for about 20 minutes, the Michigan softball coach said she needed a minute and maybe more to process what had happened over the past 24 hours at Alumni Field. The team Hutchins constructed to have power throughout the lineup saw it disappear for most of two games against Tennessee. Her All-American pitchers Jordan Taylor and Nikki Nemitz both gave up home runs.
In the span of a day, her team’s season ended with a 4-3 loss to the Lady Volunteers in the second game of a NCAA softball Super Regional. It followed a 5-0 loss to Tennessee on Thursday night.
Michigan had been swept up in the excitement of maybe going to the Women’s College World Series and ended up swept out of the playoffs instead.
“It’s very difficult,” Hutchins said.
While Tennessee (47-13) moves on to face the Arizona-BYU Super Regional winner next week in Oklahoma City, Michigan (49-8) deals with the realization it was shut out for 11 innings before finally reawakening its offense.
It was a little late.
Senior Angela Findlay scored Michigan’s first two runs of the series on a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 4-2. Then junior Dorian Shaw added her 21st home run of the season - tying a school record - in the sixth to cut Michigan’s deficit to 4-3.
The power, which the Wolverines had in bunches all season, gave them a shot. Then Michigan loaded the bases for senior catcher Roya St. Clair with two outs in the top of the seventh, the tying run one hit away from scoring.
There, in that moment, Michigan regained what it had lost for so much of the Super Regional.
A chance.
“I had a huge feeling of hope in that last inning that we were going to pull it out,” senior center fielder Molly Bausher said. “At least tie it up with only one out and the bases loaded.
“But sometimes, it just doesn’t work out that way.”
St. Clair made good contact, drilling the ball - right to Tennessee shortstop Ashley Andrews.
As the ball fell into Andrews’ mitt, Michigan felt stunned, almost immediately gathering at home plate for the traditional post-game handshake between teams. Amanda Chidester kicked some dirt. Bausher stood, hands on her hips.
Senior Maggie Viefhaus, the co-Big Ten Player of the Year, stood at the front of the line, her hands also on her hips staring and watching as Tennessee celebrated.
“I wanted to hug her,” Tennessee coach Ralph Weekly said. “And I don’t even know her.”
This is how Michigan’s season ended, in buckets full of tears, players and coaches barely making it through a press conference without breaking down and Viefhaus’ eyes still red with emotion almost a half-hour after the Wolverines made their final out.
After giving up nine runs combined in the final seven games of the regular season, Michigan allowed nine runs in the two-game Super Regional. It had Nemitz and Taylor allowing home runs on back-to-back pitches and saw the Wolverines three, four and five hitters go 2-for-17 against Tennessee.
“I see everybody crying and I know this is the last day I’ll ever play softball and it’s weird,” Bausher said. “It’s almost not true yet. I think it’ll hit when I realize I’m not coming back here as a player anymore.
“So yeah, I can’t say that it’s sunk in yet.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
maizenbluedoc
Sun, May 30, 2010 : 7:25 p.m.
Veracity I agree with your assessment of the games. I too thought they probably had taken the games against Tennessee for granted. As a former young women's softall, it takes very little to develop the defeatist attitude. The way Tennessee played, they would probably have taken 3 of three games, if played. I was extremely disappointed as I have been following the team since their 2005 championship win. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise for the team. Better luck next year and Go Blue.
Veracity
Sat, May 29, 2010 : 7:08 p.m.
My congratulations to the UofM softball team for their success through most of the season. Tater, I think that you are insensitive and too harsh. In my thinking, Michigan lost for one of two reasons (or maybe even for both reasons). First, Tennessee may be a better team. True, Tennessee lost more games than Michigan but then the SEC is a tougher softball conference than the Big Ten. During the regional playoff Tennessee shut out Ball State, bombed Virginia and beat Louisville, giving up only 3 runs total during the 3 games. Ivy Renfro is a top pitcher even as a freshman and had better control than the Michigan pitchers. This talented and young Tennessee team will likely be in the playoffs for years to come and with luck Michigan will play them again. Hopefully the outcomes will be different. The second reason explaining why Michigan lost to Tennessee involves mental preparation. My observation is that Michigan did not show focus and energy that matched Tennessee. Perhaps Michigan's success throughout the season created a certain bravado so that in the back of their minds the Michigan players believed that they were better than Tennessee and no matter how they played that they would win. This attitude may have been present when Michigan lost their only Big Ten game to Ohio State a few weeks ago. Michigan was beaten in the first of two games by another excellent freshman pitcher. However, unlike in the second game of the Super Regional, Michigan played the second game at Ohio State with obvious energy and determination. I do not know why the team under-performed the past two days. I know the loss detracts immensely from the Michigan softball players pride of having an exceptional season overall. Nevertheless, as a fan, I thank them for the many hours of enjoying their usual exploits. Go Blue!
Cindy
Sat, May 29, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
It's hard and it's sad to lose, after putting so much effort into this season. As one of many devoted fans, my hat and heart goes out to the team and its brilliant coaching staff for another great season and hours of enjoyment just watching them get the job done, game after game. Sounds trite, but I'm sure we haven't heard the last from these talented girls. Hold your heads high... we love you!
maizenbluedoc
Sat, May 29, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.
This wasn't a case of a team going into a slump. A player may go into a slump, but the whole team? Not likely. It hurts to say it, but the Vols were just a better overall team. Michigan made too many mistakes to beat a good, determined Tennessee team. Better luck next year.
Engineer
Fri, May 28, 2010 : 11:41 p.m.
Truly sad to have such a slump hit now. Sports can go in streaks. Michigan had received help from all of its players in the line up for most of the year and in the last 2 games nothing seemed to go right. A freshman pitcher comes in and just shuts us down. Hard to believe but I have to tip my cap to her. Michigan still had a great year and notched another big ten title. Just we had hope for another national title and I still bepieve this team is as good as any out there. Hold your heads high and congrats on the big ten title. Go Blue!!!