Michigan
12-5
Kent State
5-5
Wolverines Run Rule Kent State, Stumble Against No. 10 Kentucky
3/4/2022 9:18:00 PM | Softball
» No. 19 Michigan defeated Kent State, 13-0, in five innings before falling to No. 10 Kentucky, 9-2, on day two of the Wildcats' John Cropp Classic.
» Sierra Kersten, Keke Tholl and Kaylee America Rodriguez posted homers against Kent State; Tholl recorded a career-best four RBI.
» RHP Annabella Widra earned her first collegiate win against KSU, combining with Lauren Derkowski for a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan softball team split a pair of games in its second day of action at the John Cropp Classic, rolling past Kent State, 13-0, in five innings before falling to No. 10-ranked host Kentucky, 9-2, on Friday (March 4) at John Cropp Stadium.
Michigan was dominant on both sides of the ball against the Golden Flashes. The Wolverines scored in every inning of the abbreviated contest, including a first-inning five-spot, as U-M boasted 10 hits with three homers en route to its third run-rule win in four games.
Freshmen pitchers Annabelle Widra and Lauren Derkowski combined for a one-hit shutout from the circle against Kent State. It was Widra's first collegiate win; she posted five strikeouts over the first three frames and allowed one hit -- a first-inning single -- and one walk. Derkowski added two more strikeouts through two perfect frames in relief.
The Wolverines jumped on Kent State quickly with two-out RBI doubles from graduate student outfielder Kristina Burkhardt and junior first baseman Lauren Esman and a two-run bomb to left center from sophomore second baseman Sierra Kersten in the first inning. Kersten, who entered the spring break trip with no career homers, posted three over a seven-game stretch.
Sophomore catcher Keke Tholl followed with a three-run homer -- her second of the season -- to left field in the second, while sophomore second baseman Kaylee America Rodriguez drilled a two-run no-doubter over the right field wall in the fourth. It was just the second hit of the season for Rodriguez and her second career long ball.
Tholl drove in another on a two-out double down the left field line in the fifth to boast a career-best four RBI. Five different Wolverines registered multiple RBI against Kent State, who the Wolverines will host for their first home series next weekend (Sat-Sun., March 12-13).
The Kentucky nightcap proved a reversal of fortune, though Michigan was not without its opportunities. The Wolverines took an early lead and outhit the Wildcats, 9-8, but left 10 runners stranded on base. Widra and Burkhardt posted two hits apiece, while Carson used a RBI double to drive in a first-inning run. Burkhardt also earned an RBI on a groundout in the fifth.
Michigan was doomed by the long ball, giving up a two-run homer in the first and a grand slam in the third. Graduate student LHP Meghan Beaubien (2-4) took the loss, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on four hits and two walks through two innings.
The Wolverines (12-6) will wrap up their appearance at the John Cropp Classic -- and their 10-day spring break trip -- with a 1 p.m. slate against Drake tomorrow (Saturday, March 5) at Kentucky's John Cropp Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Widra, Annabelle (1-0)
L: RINGLER (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Burkhardt, Kristina 1 ; Tholl, Keke 1 ; Esman, Lauren 1
HR: Tholl, Keke 1 ; Kersten, Sierra 1 ; Rodriguez, Kaylee America 1
RBI: Burkhardt, Kristina 2 ; Tholl, Keke 4 ; Esman, Lauren 2 ; Kersten, Sierra 2 ; Rodriguez, Kaylee America 2 ; McVey, Ella 1
SF: Esman, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blair, Lexie 2 ; Sieler, Ellie 1 ; Widra, Annabelle 1 ; Burkhardt, Kristina 2 ; LeClair, Audrey 1 ; Tholl, Keke 1 ; Esman, Lauren 2 ; Kersten, Sierra 1 ; Rodriguez, Kaylee America 1 ; Livingston, Melina 1
HBP: Widra, Annabelle 1
