U-M Sacrifices Late Lead in Extra-Inning Loss at Long Beach State

Wednesday, February 28

Long Beach, Calif.

6:00 PM PT

Michigan

10-5

Long Beach State

2-13

Michigan

Long Beach State

Jenissa Conway (Michigan Photography)

U-M Sacrifices Late Lead in Extra-Inning Loss at Long Beach State

2/28/2024 11:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

» Michigan sacrificed a seventh-inning lead to fall to Long Beach State, 7-6, in nine innings.
» LBSU capitalized on 11 free passes (five walks, six HBP) and won on a two-out chop single to third.
» Jenissa Conway and Maddie Erickson posted two-run homers; Conway and Erin Hoehn led U-M with three hits apiece.

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The University of Michigan softball team twice sacrificed a late lead to drop an extra-inning heartbreaker to Long Beach State, 7-6 in nine innings, on Wednesday night (Feb. 28) at the LBSU Softball Complex.

The Wolverines led, 6-4, in the seventh after a two-run homer from freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway that banged off the scoreboard in left centerfield. LBSU took advantage of Michigan errors to plate two runs in the home half, scoring on a single and bobbled ball in leftfield then a wide throw to second base to tie the game.

Michigan responded with a couple of strong defensive plays in extra innings, but Long Beach State pushed across the game-winning run with two outs in the ninth on a high-chop single that went over the head of sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson and allowed the runner to score from third. Sophomore shortstop Avery Fantucci got to the ball in the 5-6 hole but could not get the throw off in time.

Michigan was largely doomed by too many free passes. The Beach posted eight hits with five walks and six hit-by-pitch. Three different pitchers saw time in the circle, but graduate student Hannah George (0-1) after entering in the seventh and allowing three runs -- just one earned -- on three hits and three free passes.

Conway went 3-for-3 with three RBI and gave U-M the first lead of the game on a triple to the rightfield fence then scoring on an overthrow to third. She also posted a game-tying sac fly in the fifth after LBSU took the lead with a two-run homer in the second inning. Conway finished a double short of the cycle.

Erickson followed the Conway sac fly with a two-out, two-run homer to leftfield -- her third of the season -- to give Michigan a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning. But The Beach used a leadoff walk and back-to-back two-out hits to tie the game in the sixth. Erickson finished with two hits and two RBI, while freshman pitcher Erin Hoehn, who singled to lead off Michigan's run-scoring fifth and seventh innings, went 3-for-3.

The Wolverines (10-5) will kick off play at the annual Judi Garman Classic tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 29), taking on Texas A&M at 9:30 a.m. PST and host CSU Fullerton at 3 p.m. PST at the Titans' Anderson Family Field. The latter game will be streamed live on ESPN+.