Wolverines Ride Early Lead to NCAA Elimination Game Win over SDSU

Sunday, May 22

Orlando, Fla.

12:25 PM

Michigan

38-16

South Dakota State

41-13

Michigan

South Dakota State

Kristina Burkhardt (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Ride Early Lead to NCAA Elimination Game Win over SDSU

5/22/2022 3:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored four runs in the first two innings in a 4-1 NCAA elimination game over South Dakota State.
» U-M advanced to the regional championship against host UCF at 3:25 p.m.; the Wolverines need to win twice to claim the regional crown.
» Kristina Burkhardt went 1-for-3 with two runs and a three-run homer in the second inning.
» Alex Storako struck out 12 and allowed one run on just two hits and a walk.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored four runs over the first two innings and made it hold up in a 4-1 win over South Dakota State in the NCAA Regional elimination game on Sunday (May 22) at the UCF Softball Complex.

With the victory, Michigan (38-17) advances to the regional championship game against No. 18-ranked and host UCF at 3:25 p.m. The Wolverines need to defeat UCF twice to win the regional and advance to the NCAA super regionals next weekend.

Michigan took advantage of a SDSU miscue to strike early in the first inning. Graduate student outfielder Kristina Burkhardt drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a bunt single and scored on an errant throw on a flyout to right. She tagged up and took off to third and, when the cutoff throw to short went wide into shallow left, she rounded and came home for the first run.

Burkhardt broke the game open in her next turn at the plate in the second, knocking out a two-out, three-run homer to right -- her second long ball of the season. Graduate student second baseman Melina Livingston led off the winning with a looping single to right, while freshman Ella McVey drew a two-out walk to flip the order to Burkhardt.

South Dakota State's best opportunity came in the fourth inning when it used a walk and a single to put two on with no outs. Senior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako answered with a swinging strikeout before forcing back-to-back foul outs to get out of the jam.

The Jackrabbits spoiled the shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the seventh. They put another on base with a two-out hit-by-pitch, but Storako slammed the door with a three-pitch strikeout to end the game.

Storako (25-8) was strong from the circle, striking out 12 Jackrabbit batters while allowing one run on just two hits and one walk.