Seventh-Inning Comeback Falls Short in Finale Loss to Indiana

Sunday, April 30

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

24-21, 10-10

Indiana

37-15, 15-5

Indiana

Michigan

Ella NcVey (Michigan Photography)

Seventh-Inning Comeback Falls Short in Finale Loss to Indiana

4/30/2023 6:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored twice in the seventh inning but fell to Indiana 6-5 in the series finale.
» Indiana used homers to scored five runs over the opening three innings; U-M pulled within two with two in the third and within one with two runs in the seventh.
» U-M posted 14 hits; Audrey LeClair tallied three, while Ellie Sieler, Melina Livingston, Indiana Langford and Ella McVey tallied two apiece.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team pulled within a run in the seventh but could not complete the comeback, falling to Indiana 6-5 in the series finale on Sunday (April 30) in front of 1,948 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

The Wolverines used three singles to load the bases in the seventh and plated two runs on sophomore shortstop Ella McVey's two-out, two-run single down the third-base line before a popout to shallow left ended the game and stranded the tying run on second base.

Michigan (24-21, 10-10 Big Ten) outhit the Hoosiers 14-8 but was doomed by the long ball. Indiana scored five runs over the opening three innings with four runs coming off a home run per frame.

The Wolverines kept the score close, getting a run back in the first after back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning and scoring two in the third on RBI singles from junior catcher Keke Tholl and freshman second baseman Indiana Langford. Freshman pinch runner Madi Ramey scored from second on the latter -- an infield single to second -- with a nice slide to avoid the tag at home.

Indiana (37-15, 25-5 Big Ten) added one in the sixth -- the difference in the final score -- with a two-out RBI single to center field after failing to get a third strike call that would have ended the inning.

Senior third baseman Audrey LeClair posted three hits to lead the Wolverine offense, while sophomore left fielder Ellie Sieler, graduate student first baseman Melina Livingston, Tholl, Langford and McVey all posted two hits apiece.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (17-10) took the loss from the circle, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Michigan will host a midweek matchup against Western Michigan at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (May 2) at Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. The game will be streamed on B1G+, and tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.