The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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14 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2018 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2013: Carol Hutchins' softball team knocked off Louisiana Lafayette 2-1 in the rubber match of an NCAA Tournament Super Regional May 25. Michigan scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning, and pitcher Sara Driesenga made them hold up. Michigan took the second game of a doubleheader to advance, after losing earlier in the day. The edge-of-your- seat win at Alumni Field in the Wilpon Complex ushered the Wolverines into the Women's College World Series. "I'm so proud of my kids and their ef- fort today," Hutchins said. "Sometimes losing that game two is tough; they had 24 hours to adjust, and we had 30 minutes. With that said, I have to say [Ragin' Cajuns pitcher] Jordan Wallace and that team is as tough a team as you'll ever play. "We're fortunate to come out of here with a win." The visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Wolverines responded immediately. Ashley Lane delivered a two-run double, providing all the runs Driesenga (30-7) required. She scattered four hits and struck out seven. "I think Sara's twice the pitcher she was last year, and the one thing you have to experience is experience," Hutchins said. "She got a lot of experience this year, and it made her better. She's had great moments, and she's had tough mo- ments, but you don't get better with- out tough moments. She had a tough moment in game two today. In game three, she got better." NINE YEARS AGO, 2009: Michi- gan's No. 11-ranked women's track and field team finished second at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, edged by the narrowest margin in the history of the event, May 17. The Wolverines battled at Jesse Ow- ens Memorial Stadium on the Ohio State campus, grabbing second be- hind Penn State. The Wolverines posted 138.75 points, just behind the Nittany Lions' 139. U-M won five events on the final day of competition, led by co-cap- tain Geena Gall and her pair of victories. Gall captured the 1,500-meter run in a season-best time of 4:15.09, beating Illinois' Angela Bizzarri by almost two seconds. Gall later won the 800-meter run in a time of 2:04.06. Two years ear- lier as a freshman, Gall captured the Big Ten title in the same event. Michigan head coach James Henry appreciated the effort, excruciating as the near miss for the league champion- ship might have been. "I thought that we had a good first couple of days," Henry said. "It was just the luck of the sport that put us in that position to lose a heartbreaker. It was the closest finish that I have ever had in my coaching experience. "I feel for the girls because it was a successful meet. Sometimes you can have success and not win. I am very proud of this team." 25 YEARS AGO, 1993: Michigan softball celebrated its second consecu- tive Big Ten championship, and only the second in the 15-year history of the program. Hutchins saw four of her first seven squads at Michigan finish in second place, but the Wolverines broke through for a title in 1992 and backed that effort the following year. The Wolverines clinched the title by winning 12 consecutive Big Ten con- tests, culminating with a 1-0 victory in eight innings over Iowa May 14. The Wolverines posted a 21-5 record in Big Ten play to claim the second of what would become 19 regular-season conference titles under Hutchins. Outfielder Patti Benedict completed a league season that helped propel her to first-team All-America status and Big Ten Player of the Year honors. She slammed a Michigan record for triples with 11 on the year, along with estab- lishing a U-M single-season best .421 batting average. — John Borton THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY Sara Driesenga scattered four hits and struck out seven to help U-M knock off Louisiana Lafayette 2-1 en route to the 2013 Women's College World Series. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY