Michigan softball opens Big Ten play with two mercy rule-shortened wins over Penn State
Michigan cheers for teammates up to bat against Penn State during a double header at Wilpon Softball Complex in Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
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Michigan cheers for teammates up to bat against Penn State during a double header at Wilpon Softball Complex in Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-01_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan freshman Haylie Wagner winds up her pitch. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-02_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan outfielder Nicole Sappingfield swings at the ball. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-03_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan infielder Amanda Chidester tosses her bat while watching signals coming from head coach Carol Hutchins. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-04_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan infielder Ashley Lane slides into 2nd base. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-05_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan short stop Stephanie Kirkpatrick runs across home plate after a hit by teammate Lauren Sweet. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-06_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan freshman Haylie Wagner pitches against Penn State. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-07_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan infielder Amanda Chidester waits for the pitch from first base. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-08_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan outfielder Nicole Sappingfield catches a fly ball to the outfield. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-09_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan infielder Ashley Lane hits the ball. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-10_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan short stop Stephanie Kirkpatrick hits the ball. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-11_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan 2nd baseman Ashley Lane catches a hit to the infield. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-12_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins takes a look at the field in-between batters. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-13_fullsize.JPG
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Penn State 3rd baseman Liz Presto waits for the ball while Michigan infielder Taylor Hasselbach slides into the base after hitting a double. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-14_fullsize.JPG
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Michigan infielder Taylor Hasselbach, left, high fives teammate Lyndsay Doyle after Hasselbach reached home base after hitting a double. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-15_fullsize.JPG
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Ann Arbor residents Phoenix Tanguay, age 7, left, and his sister Attie, age 11, cheer during the Michigan softball game against Penn State. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-16_fullsize.JPG
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Outfielder Nicole Sappingfield, (15), and all the Michigan teammates ran out to home plate to congratulate Amanda Chidester (3), center left, on her home run that put the mercy rule into effect and ended the first of two games against Penn State Saturday afternoon. The final score was 11 - 2. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-17_fullsize.JPG
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Fans watch the second of two Michigan softball games against Penn State on Saturday afternoon. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!softvspenn/cache/032412-AJC-michigan-softball-vs-penn-state-18_fullsize.JPG
The Michigan softball team has had a happy homecoming.
The No. 20-ranked Wolverines posted a pair of mercy rule-shortened, Big Ten-opening wins over Penn State in front of an announced crowd of 1,867 Saturday at Alumni Field.
After the 11-2 and 12-4 victories - combined with a 10-2 win against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday - Michigan is averaging 11 runs and 10 hits in its first three home games this week.
The first game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning after an Amanda Chidester two-run home run.
Leadoff hitter Bree Evans went 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI single in the five-run fifth inning. Ashley Lane went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including an RBI single in the Wolverines’ five-run third inning.
In the second game, Michigan (20-9, 2-0) pinch hitter Taylor Hasselbach ended things with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Stephanie Kirkpatrick went 3-for-5 with five RBIs, including a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Lauren Sweet, who led off the second inning with a home run, went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs.
Freshman Haylie Wagner (14-4) won both games. She started the opener, allowing two hits and two earned runs. In the second game, Wagner relieved fellow freshman Sara Driesenga and allowed two hits and one run over three innings.
Three of Penn State’s six combined runs came via long balls. Lisa Akamine had a two-run home run in the fifth inning of the opener and Cassidy Bell had a solo homer in the fifth inning of the second game for the Nittany Lions (7-17, 0-2).
The teams wrap up their three-game series at 1 p.m. Sunday at Alumni Field.