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Michigan
Claims Kia Title Over Arizona March 20, 2005 – Fullerton, Calif. Kia Klassic Tournament Page Championship Game Box Score With two mighty swings of the bat, No. 4/5 Michigan slayed the top-team in the country and for the second consecutive season No. 1/1 Arizona came away empty in the Kia Klassic title game. The Wolverines slammed two home runs and got stellar pitching from starter Jennie Ritter to claim their first Kia Klassic title, defeating top-ranked Arizona, 6-2, on Sunday afternoon at the Titan Softball Complex. Michigan (27-1), which extended its school-record winning streak to 27 games with the victory, became only the fourth team east of the Rocky Mountains to win the tournament in its 25-year history and the first since Oklahoma accomplished the feat in 1997. With one swing in the second inning, the Wolverines jumped out ahead of the WIldcats (24-2). After a walk and a pair of fielder's choices put two runners on, Stephanie Bercaw stepped to the plate and slammed the first pitch she saw from Arizona starter Taryne Mowatt (7-1) over the left field fence for the 3-0 lead. Grace Leutele added to the lead in the fourth, smacking a one-out shot over the centerfield fence for the 4-0 advantage. The Wildcats answered back with a pair in the fifth on a two-out double by Jackie Coburn and and single to center by Shely Schultz to cut the deficit to 4-2. However, the Michigan bats were too hot, adding two more runs in the sixth on an infield single, error, and a wild pitch and a single to center by Bercaw, who was 2-for-3 with four RBI in the title game, for the final 6-2 tally. Jennie Ritter (12-0) remained undefeated, allowing just two runs on seven hits in five innings. Lorilyn Wilson tossed the final two innings for Michigan, striking out one. Mowatt allowed four runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings in the loss. Alicia Hollowell, allowing one earned on four hits, striking out six in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Arizona's offense was paced by Autumn Champion, who was 3-for-4 with a run scoring. Four other Wildcats had hits. CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP Penn State's Missy Beseres allowed just four hits on the day while Jenn Reynolds led all players with three RBI as the Nittany Lions claimed the consolation championship with a 7-1 victory over Nebraska. Beseres (8-5) allowed just one run while striking out 11 in the complete game victory as Penn State finished the tournament with a 4-2 record. Jordan Keen (7-2) suffered the loss for the Huskers, allowing seven runs on nine hits and striking out four. Ashley Esparza's RBI single in the first got PSU on the board and the Nittany Lions added two more on a double by Reynolds for the 3-0 lead. Nebraska answered with a run in the fourth on an RBI double by Katie Linke, but Penn State nailed down the win with four runs in its half of the inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Jen Acunto, a single by Meghan Wolfer, an infield hit by Esparza, and a bases loaded walk to Reynolds for the final tally. Beseres then set the side down in order in two of the final three innings, allowing only an infield single and a fielder's choice in that span to close out the game. Wolfer and Esparza each had a pair of hits for the Nittany Lions while four different players had hits for Nebraska. ####
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