With last-inning dramatics, Kentucky eliminates Michigan from NCAA softball tournament
Michigan senior pitcher Jordan Taylor is consoled after Kentucky scored a pair of seventh inning runs for a 2-1 win over the Wolverines in an NCAA regional title game at Alumni Field on Sunday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Jordan Taylor grabbed her black mitt for the final time and watched it drop to the ground. She picked it up, bit the top of her blue No. 7 Michigan softball jersey and fiddled with it for a minute.
Then she made a short walk that seemed to take forever.
She tried to wait out the celebrating Kentucky team just to her right, the team that had finally gotten to her in the bottom of the seventh inning and ended Taylor’s career.
Eventually, she had no choice. In order to get out of the sun and to the comfort of her teammates, she had to walk right through the Wildcats.
And she did — gingerly.
Taylor reached Michigan’s dugout and embraced her coach, Carol Hutchins. It was then Taylor let go and started to sob. Hutchins repeatedly patted her on the back.
Entering this week, this season, this is not how Taylor thought her career would end — a Meagan Aull home run, two walks, a hit batter and then a bloop single from Annie Rowlands all in a row that took a 1-0 Michigan lead and turned it into a season-ending 2-1 loss Sunday at Alumni Field.
“She was not happy,” Hutchins said. “I’m sure she was shook up a little bit and she got a little tentative and pitched a little careful. But I told the kids Jordan did not let us down. Jordan was outstanding.
“She pitched her heart out all weekend. Our offense let us down. One run against Kentucky isn’t going to be good enough.”
It almost was.
Up until the Aull home run, which curled just fair over the right field fence, Taylor had been almost unhittable. She struck out 11 Kentucky batters and will finish No. 24 all-time in NCAA history with 1,220 strikeouts.
After the home run, Taylor, who was not made available to the media after the game, started to waver. She threw 10 straight balls and walked Rachel Riley and Brittany Cervantes before hitting Samantha DeMartine.
Kentucky softball players celebrate after an RBI single by Annie Rowlands (17) gave them a 2-1 win over Michigan.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Taylor struck out Alice O’Brien and then Rowlands had a chance to win the game with the bases loaded and one out. She blooped a single over first baseman Dorian Shaw and ended it.
Rowlands, a .151 hitter, figured Taylor wouldn’t hit her, so she crowded the plate to force Taylor to pitch her outside.
“My dad and I were talking before regionals that ‘How funny would this be if this came down to you,’’ Rowlands said. “Obviously I’m not the most powerful, best numbers on the team. But you always dream about it.
“Then it was kind of lining up for me that way and I was like ‘This is going to happen.’ I didn’t know how it was going to happen and it wasn’t the prettiest thing ever, but I knew it was going to happen somehow.”
Taylor had no help from Michigan’s offense. The Wolverines had one hit Sunday, an Ashley Lane single in the sixth inning, and the run Michigan scored came after two walks and an error by Kentucky shortstop Kara Dill.
Yet the way Taylor pitched, Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson was mentally preparing what to say to her team between games Sunday. Had the Wildcats lost, they would have played Michigan (53-6) in a one-game elimination final. Instead, Kentucky (39-14) will advance to next weekend’s Super Regional.
Michigan's loss ended two of its more prolific careers. Taylor is the Michigan record holder for strikeouts and wins (107) and Shaw was one of the better power hitters in program history.
About a half hour after the game, Shaw walked out of the Michigan clubhouse for the last time as a college player. She found her parents, placed her hands on her knees and started to cry again.
Moments later, Taylor emerged and hugged her mother. This is how her career would end, not in triumph or at the Women’s College World Series.
She was one of the last Michigan players out of the dugout Sunday, walking through a crowd of Michigan fans giving her a round of applause.
"It's always hard," Hutchins said, choking up. "They have been outstanding."
Michael Rothstein covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
Lorain Steelmen
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Losing to Tenna last year was the 'tougher' loss, as we all thought last years team, could go all the way. This years team was a group of young overachievers ......I thought the loss of Sappingfield was huge, even though Doyle did a great job of moving into the no. 2 spot. The future looks bright, with Gardner, Virgil, and the return of Kirkpatrick...plus two new pitchers, and another catcher. The trick of course, will be whether Hutch can get these kids to play with 'passion', rather than 'fear of failure'. Shaw was a perfect example of that. So far, Hutch has struggled at that, as we have only made it to OKC, one year, since '05.
Heady99
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
Just a note: Did anyone else notice that there were fans in the bleacher holding up K signs for Jordan's strikeouts? Did you also notice that on Sunday "UM Royalty" took the signs away from the fans so they could be seen on television? I spoke with one of the event helpers who said that "UM Royalty" requested the signs be given to them on Saturday!
A2Dave
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
Engineer is spot on. 4 straight Big Ten Championships for the Seniors; a record number of wins and strikeouts for Taylor (even though she shared the mound for two of her four years). No hits--no win. Pop-ups don't score runs. Simple. Pitchers get outs, they don't get runs. This was actually a re-load team that outperformed predictions--by a long shot--producing an entertaining, exciting and successful season. And it is loaded for next year. Congratulations on a great season and, Seniors, great careers. For the rest, "wait 'til next year!". Go Blue!
Engineer
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
Jordan did a great job today. You need more than one hit at this point of the season. Losing Sapingfield a couple of weeks ago did not help either. It seemed at every turn Kentucky got all the breaks and Michigan seemed snake bite all weekend. None the less this group of seniors had a great career here and won 4 stright big ten titles. Hopefully Hutch has some good recruits to fill their shoes. I did think some of the freshman played well today. Catlin Blanchard made a couple of nice out when the cats were trying to steal. Needed hits plain and simple.
Michael Rothstein
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 11:54 p.m.
@Cindy I guess technically she'll have a playing career as she can go play with the USA team or in the fledgling pro league, but not many softball players are able to make money just playing softball — especially not in the United States. Also, I've talked to other players who describe college softball as the pinnacle of competition for softball. And her college career ended Sunday, which was the pretty obvious implication. @Craig There are some pro softball leagues (see <a href="http://www.profastpitch.com" rel='nofollow'>http://www.profastpitch.com</a> and the PFX Tour) but neither are well known. The ProFastpitch has been around since 1997 under three different names and has four teams total. You can also buy a team according to their Website. If you're curious, Taylor was drafted by the USSSA Pride and Dorian Shaw by the Chicago team in that league. Hope that helps.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 11:42 a.m.
Thanks for the feedback Michael.
semperveritas
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.
granted that college softball really is a niche sport. the fact is though that many of us love it. the kids who play SEEM to be worthy of the 'student--athlete' tag. thanks for covering the wolverine women.
semperveritas
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.
it certainly wasn't jordan's fault. she soldiered on the last four weeks with a shoulder that was probably a long way from 100%. the fact that there was no dependable second pitcher can't be pinned on her. and today we had ONE hit. jordan taylor had an OUTSTANDING career in A2. wish that it hadn't ended with a base hit that barely cleared first base.
maizenbluedoc
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.
The team should feel proud of their accomplishment this year. Sure, it is hard to lose, but Kentucky was the better team. This, combined with the errors and inability to hit was their downfall. Who knows what would have happened if Taylor had not become unglued in the 7th inning. Unfortunately, she allowed her emotions to get the better of her and did not pitch well after the home run. Taylor did her share to win the game. Had the offense scored some runs earlier, it would not have come down to the last inning win for Kentucky. Go Blue.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.
Other than the U.S. National team what else is there? Thats a serious question not intended as sarcasm.
deagle
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
Yes, Taylor will be pitching for the NY Yankees next Friday night. There are no guarantees that she will have a "career" after today. Besides, the implication was that her U of M career was over. No need to get your Victoria's Secrets into a bunch.
Cindy Trost
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
What a silly article ... why is it that you mention Jordan's "career ending" twice??? Her softball pitching career is just beginning! Check your facts out before tugging at the heart strings, please.