Stories by Alejandro Zúñiga
Softball
On softball: Reeling Michigan in need of improvement
- Patrick Barron/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
The Michigan softball team blazed through regular-season conference play, garnering a 20-2 record and earning a sixth-straight Big Ten championship. But when the postseason began, the Wolverines experienced a harsh reality: It’s a whole new ballgame.
Soccer
Men’s soccer announces stellar 2013 class
- Sidney Krandall/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
With the scheduled addition of Maryland and Rutgers in 2014, the Big Ten will become one of the strongest men’s soccer conferences in the country. On Wednesday, Michigan reaped the benefits as coach Chaka Daley officially announced 11 players who will join the Wolverines this fall.
Taking advantage of free bases, Wolverines sweep Northwestern
- Marlene Lacasse/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
As it has all season, Michigan (20-2 Big Ten, 44-9 overall) responded to its coach, winning its final two games to sweep its final series of the regular season.
Softball
For sixth-straight time, softball wins Big Ten title in win over Northwestern
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t easy, but the Michigan softball team clinched its sixth-straight Big Ten title by beating Northwestern, 2-1, on Friday night. The 10th-ranked Wolverines (18-2 Big Ten, 42-9 overall) also became the first program in the country to win six conference championships in a row.
Softball
Wolverines have chance to clinch Big Ten title at Nebraska
- Paul Sherman/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
The 16th-ranked Cornhuskers (12-4, 35-10) could easily be the biggest hurdle between Michigan and an undefeated Big Ten regular season. The only other top-25 squad in the conference and the first ranked team the Wolverines have faced since March 15, Nebraska could pull to within one game of first place with a three-game sweep.
The other ones in maize and blue
- Paul Sherman/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
The freshman left fielder’s grand slam sailed deep into left-center field, threatening to clear a grove of pine trees that divides Alumni Field from the neighboring baseball complex. Standing on the concourse behind the third-base grandstand, two men in matching blue jackets saw the moonshot bounce off a tree trunk and grinned.
Softball
Six home runs highlight softball's record day
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
But when freshman phenom Sierra Romero — who boasts a .416 batting average and 15 home runs on the season — stepped up to the plate, the winds showed signs of change. The two flags in centerfield started fluttering in the brisk breeze.
A lifelong dedication to Michigan
- Patrick Barron/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
How does a softball program like Michigan’s win five consecutive Big Ten titles? How does it become the first school east of the Mississippi River to win a national championship? And what draws top recruits to Ann Arbor?
Wolverines blast Ohio State in softball sweep
- Patrick Barron/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
Hours after watching the men’s basketball team move closer to winning a National Championship, Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins speculated a similar result for her own program.
Early inning offense helps softball dominate Falcons
- Patrick Barron/Daily
BY ALEJANDRO ZúñIGA
As a brisk wind blew into right field, fans and coaches huddled under multiple layers of clothing when the No. 14 Michigan softball team hosted Bowling Green on Wednesday afternoon. But junior left fielder Nicole Sappingfield sparked an offense that was red hot, and the Wolverines buried the Falcons, 9-1.
