Michigan
26-21
Oakland
16-18
Seniors Shine in Run-Rule Home Finale Over Oakland
5/3/2023 8:57:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan earned a 13-0, five-inning win over Oakland in its 2023 home finale.
» All six Wolverine seniors tallied at least one hit, while Audrey LeClair, Keke Tholl and Lexie Blair all posted home runs.
» Jessica LeBeau struck out five and allowed two hits and no walks en route to the complete-game shutout.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team wrapped up the home portion of its 2023 schedule with its second straight run-rule victory, cruising to a 13-0, five-inning decision against Oakland on Wednesday evening (May 3) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.
The Wolverines (26-21) combined for 13 hits, including three homers for the second night in a row, and all six seniors tallied at least one base knock in their final appearance at Alumni Field.
Michigan broke the game open early, using two of its three homers to highlight a seven-run second inning. Senior third baseman Audrey LeClair and junior catcher Keke Tholl both deposited long balls into the right-field grandstand. LeClair knocked out a two-run shot -- her third homer of the season -- before U-M loaded the base for Tholl, who connected on the first pitch for the Wolverines' first grand slam of the season and her team-best 11th home run. Senior designated player Lexi Voss added another run with two outs on a looped RBI single to right center.
Senior catcher Jessica Garmen registered her second RBI in as many nights with a pinch-hit RBI single over the third baseman's glove and just fair down the line to plate a run in the third. It was her first hit of the season and second of her career.
The Wolverines pushed the game comfortably into run-rule territory with a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by freshman shortstop Avery Fantucci's two-run triple down the line and into the right-field corner and graduate-student outfielder Lexie Blair's three-run homer to right -- her second in as many nights -- in her final home at-bat.
Junior right-handed pitcher Jessica LeBeau (8-11) struck out five and allowed just two hits and no outs in a five-inning shutout from the circle.
Michigan will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to wrap up its regular season with a three-game weekend set against Minnesota at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The teams will square off at 6:30 p.m. CDT slate on Friday (May 5), 11 a.m. CDT on Saturday (Mat 6) and 1 p.m. CDT on Sunday (May 7). The latter two games will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LeBeau, Jessica (8-11)
L: Mia Konyvka (0-7)
Batting:
2B: Maci Brown 1
Batting:
3B: Fantucci, Avery 1
HR: Blair, Lexie 1 ; Tholl, Keke 1 ; LeClair, Audrey 1
RBI: Blair, Lexie 3 ; Tholl, Keke 4 ; Garmen, Jessica 1 ; Voss, Lexi 1 ; LeClair, Audrey 2 ; Fantucci, Avery 2
SH: Voss, Lexi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sieler, Ellie 1 ; Carricaburu, Ryleigh 1 ; Blair, Lexie 2 ; Tholl, Keke 1 ; Livingston, Melina 1 ; Mataya, Ellie 2 ; Voss, Lexi 1 ; LeClair, Audrey 1 ; McVey, Ella 2 ; Fantucci, Avery 1
HBP: Carricaburu, Ryleigh 1
