Wolverines Clinch Series Win with Run Rule Against Ohio State

Saturday, April 11

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:00 AM

Michigan

26-14, 6-8

Ohio State

19-21, 7-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ohio St.	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	2
Michigan	3	4	0	0	0	4	11	8	0

Softball team celebration at the plate versus Ohio State

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Clinch Series Win with Run Rule Against Ohio State

4/11/2026 2:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored seven runs in the opening two innings en route to an 11-1, six-inning win against rival Ohio State to clinch the weekend home series.
» Ella Stephenson went 4-for-4 with three doubles, tying a program record, while Lilly Vallimont ended the game early with a grand slam in the sixth.
» Gabby Ellis fanned six Buckeyes and allowed just one run on four hits and no walks for the complete-game win.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team used a fast start to clinch its third straight Big Ten Conference series win with a decisive 11-1, six-inning victory over rival Ohio State on Saturday afternoon (April 11) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

The Wolverines (26-14, 6-8 Big Ten) scored seven runs over the first two innings and ended it early with redshirt junior catcher Lilly Vallimont's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth. It was Vallimont's second game-ending grand slam in nine games.

Junior leftfielder Ella Stephenson went 4-for-4 and tied a Michigan program record with three doubles -- the most for a Wolverine player since 2013 -- and three RBI to pace the Michigan offense. Sophomore rightfielder Lauren Putz also posted two hits and two RBI while scoring three runs. She and Stephenson combined to drive in three runs in the first, capitalizing on back-to-back infield errors to put two on with no outs. Putz roped an RBI single to rightfield to push across the game's first runner, and two batters later, Stephenson laced a low line-drive double into the right centerfield gap, bringing home two more.

Michigan scored four runs with two outs in the second inning. Senior designated player Indiana Langford reached on a one-out walk, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored when Putz smacked a bouncing RBI single up the middle. Putz then scored on a Stephenson double down the leftfield line. Ohio State went to the bullpen but allowed three straight free passes to load the bases to push across two more Wolverine runs.

After OSU posted a leadoff solo homer in the third, Michigan capitalized on another ineffective Buckeye pitching change to end the game in the sixth. The Wolverines loaded the bases with no outs on a Putz leadoff walk and back-to-back singles before Vallimont blasted her sixth homer of the season to the grandstand in right centerfield.

Junior RHP Gabby Ellis (9-4) was terrific from the circle to earn the complete-game win, posting six strikeouts while allowing just four hits and no walks over six innings.

Michigan will wrap up its weekend series against rival Ohio State at 3 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, April 12) at Hutchins Stadium. The game will air on the Big Ten Network, and tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.