Wolverines Sacrifice Lead in Extra-Inning Loss at No. 9 Northwestern

Friday, April 1

Evanston, Ill.

3:30 PM CT

Michigan

19-10, 0

Northwestern

23-4, 0

Michigan

Northwestern

Melina Livingston (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Sacrifice Lead in Extra-Inning Loss at No. 9 Northwestern

4/1/2022 8:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 23 Michigan scored three runs early but could not hang onto its lead, falling 4-3 in nine innings at No. 9 Northwestern.
» Northwestern pushed across the winning run on a check-swing bloop single with bases loaded.
» RHP Alex Storako fanned seven and allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk; Northwestern's Danielle Williams gave up three runs on five hits and a walk and struck out 16.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team struck early and led for most of the game against No. 9 Northwestern but couldn't hang on late, falling 4-3 in nine innings on Friday afternoon (April 1) at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

The Wildcats used solo home runs to score all three of their runs in regulation play, including back-to-back homers to lead off the bottom of the sixth and tie the game.

The game-winning hit was much less dramatic. With the bases loaded and two outs, Northwestern sent a check-swing blooper over the circle. It hit the dirt and died, and Michigan couldn't scoop it up and get to first base in time, as the go-ahead run crossed home plate.

Michigan scored its runs in the first and second innings and held the lead until the sixth. The Wolverines took advantage of a pair of dribblers and two errors to break through in the former. Graduate student outfielder Kristina Burkhardt reached on a bunt single, advanced on a throwing error and scored from second with two outs on another Northwestern overthrow at first base.

The Wolverines plated two more with two outs in the second on senior outfielder Lexie Blair's two-run double to the left-center gap. Graduate student third baseman Taylor Bump, who keyed the rally with a walk, and freshman leftfielder Ellie Sieler, who made a diving grab on the left-field line the previous inning, scored.

Michigan's bats went quiet for several innings before graduate student Melina Livingston reached in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single off the third baseman's glove and advanced on a sac bunt before a strikeout and groundout stranded her there.

Northwestern also threatened with a one-out walk in the seventh before Blair exited the game with an apparent injury, after making a big catch against the center-field wall. The Wildcats posted doubles in the eighth and ninth, capitalizing on the latter to push across the winning run.

Senior RHP Alex Storako (13-4) allowed four runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out seven Wildcat batters. For her part in the duel, Northwestern's Danielle Williams gave up three runs on five hits and a walk and struck out 16.

Michigan (19-10) will resume the Northwestern series with a 1 p.m. CDT slate tomorrow (Saturday, April 2) at Drysdale Field. The game will be aired live on Big Ten Network.