Wolverines Drop Opening Two Games at Judi Garman Classic

Thursday, February 29

Fullerton, Calif.

9:30 AM PT

Michigan

10-6

Texas A&M

16-1

Michigan

Texas A&M

Ellie Sieler (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Drop Opening Two Games at Judi Garman Classic

2/29/2024 6:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan fell to No. 17 Texas A&M 6-0 and host CSU Fullerton 5-1 to open the Judi Garman Classic.
» Ellie Sieler posted three of Michigan's five hits on the day and scored on a sixth-inning wild pitch against the Titans.
» Four Wolverines pitchers saw time in the circle, combining for 13 hits allowed and 11 walks.

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The University of Michigan softball team dropped its opening games of the annual Judi Garman Classic, falling to No. 17 Texas A&M 6-0 and host CSU Fullerton 5-1 on Thursday (Feb. 29) at the Titans' Anderson Family Field.

Texas A&M built its lead early, scoring a run apiece in the first and third innings before breaking it open with a four-run fifth.

The Aggies drew back-to-back walks to lead off the fifth inning, then plated runs in the next two at-bats with a hot-shot single to second base and another looped into left field. Michigan answered with two quick outs, including one at home on a fielder's choice to short, but TAMU resumed the scoring surge with a two-run double to the left center gap.

For its part, Michigan posted three hits, including two leadoff singles from junior outfielder Ellie Sieler, and only put four runners on in the contest. TAMU pitcher Emiley Kennedy recorded 12 strikeouts -- a season high for the Wolverines.

Junior right=handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (4-3) took the loss from the circle, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over the first four innings.

Michigan ran into a similar struggle in the second slate, posting two hits and a walk while leaving four on base against CSU Fullerton. Sieler scored the Wolverines' run in the sixth inning, reaching with a leadoff walk, advancing on a pair of groundouts and scoring on a wild pitch in the dirt. Sieler reached in all three of her plate appearances against Fullerton and posted three hits on the day.

The Titans scored a run in the first, added three more in the third, including two off a home run to left, and another one on a squeeze bunt in the sixth. CSU Fullerton also left eight runners stranded on base, with Michigan getting out of bases-loaded jams in the second and fifth frames.

Freshman RHP Erin Hoehn (4-1) suffered her fist collegiate loss, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Senior RHP Jessica LeBeau was solid in relief, striking out six with just one hit and one unearned run allowed over the final four innings.

The Wolverines (10-7) will continue action at the Judi Garman Classic with two more games Friday (March 1), facing Oregon State at 9:30 a.m. PST and UCLA at 3 p.m. PST at the Titans' Anderson Family Field.