Wolverines Run-Rule Rival Ohio State to Open Big Ten Tourney Play

Wednesday, May 6

College Park, Md.

1:30 PM

Michigan

31-19

Ohio State

26-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan	1	0	3	5	0	9	12	0
Ohio St.	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	4

Lilly Vallimont (Chris Bernacchi/Big Ten Conference)

Wolverines Run-Rule Rival Ohio State to Open Big Ten Tourney Play

5/6/2026 6:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan plated eight runs across the third and fourth innings en route to a 9-0, five-inning decision against Ohio State in its Big Ten Tournament opener.
» Janelle Ilacqua paced the Wolverine offense with three hits and a pair of RBI, while Jenissa Conway and Lilly Vallimont posted two hits apiece.
» Gabby Ellis earned her first complete-game shutout of the season, allowing no runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Michigan softball team cruised to a 9-0, five-inning win over rival Ohio State for an explosive start to its 2026 Big Ten Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon (May 6) at the Maryland Softball Complex.

The Wolverines (34-19), the two-time defending tournament champion, advance to the Big Ten quarterfinals, where they will face top-seeded Nebraska at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (May 7).

Senior second baseman Janelle Ilacqua headlined the Wolverine offense from the No. 9 hole, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Junior center fielder Jenissa Conway and redshirt junior catcher Lilly Vallimont posted two hits apiece, with Vallimont recording her 10th home run of the season.

Junior right-handed pitcher Gabby Ellis (11-3) went the distance for the third straight game, earning her first complete-game shutout of the season with five hits and one walk allowed, with a pair of strikeouts.

Michigan wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first. Senior designated player Indiana Langford dropped a leadoff bunt single on the first pitch of the game and swiped second before junior left fielder Ella Stephenson laced an RBI single to left field to score Langford from second base.

Michigan broke the game open in the third inning, with Vallimont launching a one-out solo home run to center field. After freshman shortstop Kiley Carr doubled down the left-field line and senior third baseman Maddie Erickson drew a walk, Ilacqua delivered with a first-pitch single to right-center. The OSU right fielder dove but could not secure the ball, allowing Carr to score. Moments later, Erickson came home on a passed ball.

The fourth inning put the game out of reach. Conway and Vallimont singled on back-to-back pitches to start the rally, and Conway later scored when a rushed throw by the shortstop sailed wide on a grounder. Carr drew a walk to load the bases, and after a second out, Ilacqua beat out a slow roller for an RBI infield single. Junior designated player Erin Hoehn followed with a looping RBI single to shallow right, and sophomore right fielder Lauren Putz capped the inning with a sharply hit two-run single off the shortstop's glove to push the game into run-rule territory.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Buckeyes threatened with back-to-back singles to open the inning, but Michigan's defense shut the door. Conway made a standout catch against the wall in left-center field to prevent extra bases, and a pair of flyouts -- the first of which held the runner at third -- sealed the victory.