Michigan
41-17
Kentucky
31-22
Wolverines Sacrifice Lead in Walk-Off Heartbreaker Against Kentucky in NCAA Opener
5/17/2024 7:05:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan led in the second and fifth innings before falling to Kentucky, 4-3, on a walk-off, seeing-eye single in its NCAA Regional opener.
» Ella Stephenson posted a two-run homer in the fifth inning, while Ava Costales and Ellie Sieler tallied two hits apiece.
» Lauren Derkowski struck out eight Wildcat batters and allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks.
STILLWATER, Okla. -- The University of Michigan softball team twice sacrificed leads before falling, 4-3, on a walk-off, seeing-eye single against Kentucky in its opening game of the NCAA Regional on Friday afternoon (May 17) at Oklahoma State's Cowgirl Stadium.
The Wolverines (41-17) will face Northern Colorado in the loser's bracket game at 2:30 p.m. CDT tomorrow (Saturday, May 18) at Cowgirl Stadium. Michigan previously played UNC at the UC Santa Barbara Tournament in late February, winning 9-1 (5 inn.)Â and 4-1.
Kentucky loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, reaching on a bunt single and a bloop single to shallow leftfield before U-M intentionally walked the Wildcats' cleanup hitter. The next batter looped a ball toward shallow right; sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford ranged back to get her glove on it but could not hang on as the winning run crossed the plate.
Michigan posted its share of opportunities, taking leads in the first inning and again in the fifth, but stranded 10 base runners through seven innings, including runners in scoring position in the first, second, fourth and sixth.
Wolverine freshmen delivered the team's two RBI hits. Designated player Ava Costales went 2-for-2 with a walk and drove in the game's first run in the second, while outfielder Ella Stephenson posted a two-run homer in the fifth. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler also earned a pair of hits from the leadoff spot.
Freshman Jenissa Conway led off the second with a walk -- U-M earned six free passes in the game -- and advanced on two passed balls; Costales followed the latter with a lined single to leftfield on the next pitch to plate Conway from third.
Kentucky evened the score with a leadoff walk of its own and a RBI double to the leftfield wall in the bottom of the second, then took the lead with a one-out solo home run in the fourth.
Michigan responded with a long ball in the next half inning. Sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson reached on an infield single, deep to the 5-6 hole, and scored when Stephenson drove a two-run shot over the spectator deck in leftfield to retake the lead for the Maize and Blue. It was Stephenson's fourth home run of the season.
But the Wildcats again answered quickly to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, reaching on a leadoff single to shallow center, advancing the runner with a sac bunt and scoring on a two-out RBI double to leftfield.
Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski (19-9) was solid in defeat, striking out eight Kentucky batters, while allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stephanie Schoonover (19-9)
L: Derkowski, Lauren (19-9)
Batting:
HR: Stephenson, Ella 1
RBI: Stephenson, Ella 2 ; Costales, Ava 1
SH: Langford, Indiana 2 ; McVey, Ella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dellamonica, Lexi 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 1
HBP: Conway, Jenissa 1
Batting:
2B: Vanessa Nesby 1 ; Peyton Plotts 1
HR: Grace Lorsung 1
RBI: Vanessa Nesby 1 ; Grace Lorsung 1 ; Ally Hutchins 1 ; Peyton Plotts 1
SH: Ally Hutchins 1 ; Lauryn Borzilleri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Erin Coffel 1 ; Grace Lorsung 1 ; Emory Donaldson 1 ; Margaret Tobias 1
HBP: Jenna Blanton 1
