Mike Hulsebus Photography
Michigan Softball took on the Texas Longhorns tonight in their second round
of Softball World Series play.

If you've been watching any sports coverage at all you've
heard about Texas pitcher Cat
Osterman (the tall one), a pitching powerhouse that averages a little more that
15 strikeouts per
game (even more impressive when you consider that softball games are only seven innings)

After the first inning, it wasn't looking good for Michigan, who had
all three of their batters get struck out.

Jennie Ritter held her own as well, delivering her typical great performance.
So even when Texas did get on base, they didn't get to score.
For the first three innings, Cat Osterman was holding things down

Then in the top of the fourth came first baseman Samantha Findlay, who stepped up to the plate and
got a double that brought in two runners.

In a game that many expected would be decided by one run, this was huge.
The Michigan hitters made some adjustments, and started taking control away from Osterman
Jessica Merchant scored in the sixth off a hit from Nicole Motycka
And after pitching 5.2 innnings and getting 12 strikeouts, they took her out,

bringing in Meagan Denny as a reliever

Ritter kept it going on the mound and the defense kept it so
that whenever Texas did make contact,
you could expect it to be caught and tossed around the infield.
Alessandra Giampaolo made the final out of the game and Michigan won 4-0. The win means that Michigan
has Saturday off, giving them an opportunity rest up for their game Sunday.
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