It looks like UM landed one hell of a softball player and home run slugger here. She was ESPN California All-State as multi-purpose player.  She's also a pitcher. 

According to Strictly Softball, Ms. Gardner is apparently the "take no prisoners" type:

"Mandy earned a 0.43 earned run average, 91 strikeouts and 14-2 record through 97 innings pitched and batting .476 with 15 home runs and 27 runs batted in.  Gardner was named the South Coast League MVP and led Aliso Niguel High School to the league championship."

Aliso Niguel's High School mascot:  The Wolverines, of course.

And uh, about those home runs:  l'd like to hereby advise all softball fans in Ann Arbor and around the Big Ten conference to please park their vehicles well away from the outfield fence.  Thank you.

It was quite a day for Michigan Athletics yesterday. Here's a quick recap:

Softball Woo!

The Michigan Softball team continued their winning ways on Thursday, pplating 6 runs (4 earned) against one of the stingiest pitchers in the college ranks. Alabama pitcher Kelsi Dunne hadn't given up so much as a hit in two straight games (an NCAA record for Super Regionals), but gave up 8 to the Wolverines including a home run to number three hitter Amanda Chidester. Shortstop Teddi Ewing went 3-3 with 2 RBIs, and Michigan ace Nikki Nemitz went the full seven innings, giving up only three hits and one earned run. Importantly, that earned run didn't come until the 7th when Michigan was up 6-0.

Michigan moves on to face top-seeded Florida tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The Gators prevailed in yesterday's nightcap, topping Arizona 3-0 on the strength of Stacey Nelson's arm. Nelson held the Wildcats, the NCAA's most powerful offense and one that set a record for home runs in a season, without a hit following the first inning. Nelson got all the help she needed off the bat of Francesca Enea's two run blast in the bottom of the first. 

Expect to see Nemitz and Nelson battle it out tonight. Go Blue!

Men's Golf into Match Play Portion of Championship!

For those of you unfamiliar with how the NCAA Golf Championships work, 30 teams are invited to play at the NCAA tournament. Of those 30 teams, only the top eight after 54-holes of play advance to match play to determine the National Championship. Michigan hadn't made the championship tournament in 12 years, and more importantly, Michigan hasn't finished higher that 11th nationally since 1952.

And, instead, today they find themselve among the nation's elite golf programs. Yesterday, despite being the 29th team invited to participate, Michigan finished 6th to qualify for the championship match play pairings. Michigan has already teed off against USC in a No. 6 v. No. 3 pairing. If you're so inclined, the webcast can be found here. Go get 'em guys. Go Blue.