Wolverines Rally Twice, Cannot Overcome No. 3 Oklahoma

Saturday, June 4

Oklahoma City, Okla.

8:30 PM CT

Michigan

52-6

Oklahoma

54-7

Oklahoma

Michigan

Wolverines Rally Twice, Cannot Overcome No. 3 Oklahoma

6/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

June 4, 2016

» Michigan twice rallied but could not overcome No. 3 Oklahoma, falling, 7-5, in its second game of the NCAA Women's College World Series.
» Aidan Falk went 3-for-3 with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning; Michigan outhit the Sooners, 12-7.
» Michigan will face No. 8 Florida State in an elimination game at noon CDT tomorrow (Sunday, June 5).

• Box Score | Photo Gallery
• WCWS Central | Bracket

Site: Oklahoma City, Okla. (ASA Hall of Fame Stadium)
Event: NCAA Women's College World Series (Day 3 of 7)
Scores: #3 Oklahoma 7, #2 Michigan 5
Records: U-M (52-6), OU (54-7)
Attendance: 8,964
Next U-M Event: Sunday, June 5 -- vs. Florida State - NCAA Women's College World Series (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Noon CDT

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team was able to shake off a sluggish start against No. 3 Oklahoma, twice rallying to pull within striking distance but could not complete the comeback, falling, 7-5, in its second game of the NCAA Women's College World Series on Saturday evening (June 4) at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

With the loss, the Wolverines dropped into the losers' bracket, where they will face No. 8 seed Florida State in an elimination game at noon CDT tomorrow (Sunday, June 5). If U-M wins, it will face No. 4 Auburn at 6 p.m. CDT later in the day. The Wolverines need to win both contests to stay alive.

The Sooners took advantage of Michigan miscues and three well-placed hits to plate three runs in the top of the first inning. With two runners in scoring position, first baseman Shay Knighten chopped a two-run single up the middle and scored, two batters later, on a throwing error after a steal attempt. Oklahoma padded its lead to 4-0 on third baseman Sydney Romero's solo homer in the third inning.

Sophomore catcher Aidan Falk, who went 3-for-3 with three RBI, put Michigan on the board in the fourth, driving a no-doubt two-run blast just fair down the rightfield line -- her seventh home run of the season. Sophomore designated player Amanda Vargas keyed a two-out rally with a double to the left center gap two batters later, and after a walk, senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence and senior second baseman Sierra Romero beat out infield singles in back-to-back at-bats, plating a run on the latter when Romero chopped an RBI single to third base.

Oklahoma rebuilt its cushion -- to 7-3 -- with another solo homer in the sixth and two runs in the top of the seventh.

The Wolverines rallied with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, and Falk again provided the spark, roping an RBI single into right center after sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco kept the inning alive with a bouncer through the left side. Junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano punched the next pitch through left side to plate another, cutting the deficit to two runs, and Vargas was hit by the next to load the bases, before a groundout back to the circle ended the threat and the game.

Michigan outhit the Sooners, 12-7, but left 10 stranded, including three apiece in the fourth and seventh frames.

Junior RHP Megan Betsa (28-4) struck out seven and gave up seven runs -- five earned -- on six hits and six walks.

• Previous Results: U-M/LSU

Communications Contact: Leah Howard