Explosive Bats Push Michigan Past Georgia State in Run-Rule Win

Sunday, February 16

Atlanta, Ga.

1:00 PM

Michigan

5-4

Georgia State

1-9

MICHIGAN

GEORGIA STATE

Lauren Putz (Michigan Photography)

Explosive Bats Push Michigan Past Georgia State in Run-Rule Win

2/16/2025 4:03:00 PM | Softball

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By: Samuel Gold

» The Wolverines scored runs in four consecutive innings in an 11-1 run-rule win over the Georgia State Panthers.
» Lauren Putz recorded a two-run home run in the third and a three-run home run in the fourth for a five-RBI day.
» Michigan piled on 12 hits in the contest, including at least one hit from nine different batters.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The University of Michigan softball team closed out its Peach State weekend with a run-rule victory on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 16), defeating Georgia State 11-1 in five innings at the Bob Heck Softball Complex.

Freshman first baseman Lauren Putz led the Wolverines (5-4) with two hits and two walks, including home runs in back-to-back at-bats and four total runs scored. Sophomore outfielder Ella Stephenson and junior shortstop Avery Fantucci posted two hits apiece.

Sophomore right-hander Erin Hoehn (2-2) earned the win as a starter, striking out four batters while allowing just one hit over the first three innings. After surrendering a double in the first inning, Hoehn was dominant for the remainder of her outing, retiring the next eight batters she faced.

After a quiet first inning, the Wolverines took control, scoring at least two runs in each of the next four innings, capped by a three-run fifth to reach the run-rule margin.

Putz led off the second inning with a walk and advanced to second before Fantucci looped an RBI single to right field to bring her home. Senior second baseman Ella McVey followed with an RBI groundout, and senior outfielder Ellie Sieler added an RBI single to give Michigan an early three-run lead.

Stephenson opened the fifth inning with a double down the third-base line before Putz drew another walk to load the bases. Freshman outfielder Megan Beemer recorded her first collegiate hit with a single to right field, driving in two runs.

With an extended lead, freshman right-hander Haley Ferguson entered in the fourth and added two strikeouts in relief, pitching the final two innings for the Wolverines.

Georgia State scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk. The runner advanced on a groundout and a fielding error before stealing home. Consecutive outs—a flyout and a groundout—ended the inning.

The Wolverines return to action next weekend at the South Florida Showdown (Feb. 21-22), facing Kent State at 11:15 a.m. and USF at 4:05 p.m. on Friday at the USF Softball Stadium. The latter game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Michigan closes out the weekend on Saturday against Louisville at 9:00 a.m. and Troy at 11:15 a.m.