Home runs get the glory, offense - or lack of it - may get the press, and more often pitching determines success.

But for the Michigan softball team, it is the lost art of defense that has propelled the Wolverines to a 25-7 record (3-1 Big Ten) this season.

This couldn't have been more evident in last Sunday's first game of a doubleheader against then-No. 25 Ohio State. The Buckeyes, seen by many as the top team in the Big Ten because of their explosive offense, took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning against Michigan. With two outs and Michigan's Meghan Doe and Kelsey Kollen on second and third, it was all up to junior Marissa Young. Young hit a seemingly easy groundball to Ohio State's second baseman. But the infielder bobbled it and allowed the tying run to score, which set up Michigan's winning run later that inning.

In the second game on Sunday, the Buckeyes committed three more errors, giving the Wolverines more chances to hit off the usually-dominant Katie Chain - who was a week removed from being named the Big Ten's Pitcher of the Week for the Buckeyes. Michigan ended up winning, 8-2.

"It's important for us to play defense (because) it took us the whole game to really get any offense going," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said last Wednesday. "We need to play good defense, and I'm really pleased because I believe that if we play good defense like we're playing, our chances our good. We work on it, and you've got to have it, or you're not going to compete."

With a fielding percentage of .975 and just 22 errors, the Wolverines share the lead with Illinois in the two Big Ten defensive categories and are tied for the most conference wins in the with three.

Michigan will face its exact opposite - both defensively and otherwise - at Indiana (0-4 Big Ten, 10-14-1 overall) today and tomorrow.

The Hoosiers are currently staring up from the cellar, not just in the standings, but statistically as well. They boast league worsts of 63 errors and a .926 fielding percentage to go along with the second worst ERA in the Big Ten.

Many believe that defense starts with pitching, and while that may be true, the surrounding fielders eventually make or break a pitcher. This is true for Michigan's duo of Young and freshman Nicole Motycka. Especially for Motycka, who doesn't strike out as many hitters as Young, the defense plays an important role in winning games.

"Well, so far this season the defense has played well behind me the entire time, and being a drop ball pitcher, I have to rely on them every game," Motycka said. "Whether I'm on or not, they know they have to do their job. So it's definitely comforting having such a great defense behind me."

Motycka and Young can include themselves in that strong defense; they both bring a Greg Maddux-like presence to the mound, as neither has committed an error. Young also gets playing time at first base, where she has also been perfect defensively this season.