Wolverines Shake Off Slow Start in Decisive Midweek Win at Oakland

Tuesday, April 23

Rochester, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

21-14

Oakland

34-14

Michigan

Oakland

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Shake Off Slow Start in Decisive Midweek Win at Oakland

4/23/2024 5:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan put up five runs in the fifth and three in the seventh to earn a 9-4 win at Oakland.
» Ella Stephenson tallied three hits, including her third triple in five at-bats, and four RBI; Avery Fantucci posted two hits and two RBI.
» Hannah George earned the win in relief, striking out four while allowing one run on four hits and one walk through four innings.

ROCHESTER, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team started slow but busted out in the fifth, plating five runs en route to a 9-4 win at Oakland on Tuesday afternoon (April 23) at Oakland Softball Field.

Michigan earned hits from seven different players, while freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson -- the back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week -- continued her hot streak with three hits and four RBI. Sophomore third baseman Avery Fantucci also posted two hits and two RBI after entering in the fifth inning.

Graduate student right-handed pitcher Hannah George (5-1) earned the win in relief -- her fifth over the Wolverines' last eight games -- with four strikeouts and one run allowed on four hits and one walk through four innings.

The Wolverines rallied from an initial deficit after Oakland used a two-out single through the right side to strike first. Michigan answered in the next half inning. Sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford reached on a leadoff infield single to third, stole second and scored when Stephenson pounded an RBI triple to the left-center field fence. It was Stephenson's third triple in five at-bats.

Michigan broke it open with a five-spot in the fifth inning, leading off with a walk before earning four RBI hits. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler laced a double to the right-center field fence to chase the Oakland starter from the circle, and Michigan maintained its momentum with the new pitcher. Fantucci laced a two-run, pinch-hit double to the left-center field fence, sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson singled down the left-field line, and Stephenson singled to the right-center gap.

Oakland pushed through with an unearned run in the sixth, reaching on an error before scoring the runner on a two-out RBI single to center field.

Michigan again answered in the next half inning with three runs in the top of the seventh. The Wolverines loaded the bases on a single and two walks before Stephenson drove in two with a single to left-center. U-M walked to reload the bases, and senior first baseman Ryleigh Carricaburu drew another all to push in a run.

The Golden Grizzlies narrowed the final deficit in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run double after a pair of walks to lead off the inning. Senior RHP Emerson Aiken rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts and used a popout to end the game.

Michigan (33-14) will return to the road this weekend for a three-game series against Penn State in State College, Pa. The teams will face off at 5 p.m. on Friday (April 26) and 1 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday (April 27-28) at Nittany Lion Softball Park.