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For the second time in four years, Michigan softball suffered a Knight-mare in the NCAA Tournament.
After being eliminated from the 2022 tourney by UCF — in legendary coach Carol Hutchins’ final game — the Wolverines were bounced by the Knights again on Saturday, May 17, as the dynamic mound duo of Lauren Derkowski and Erin Hoehn were zapped for double-digit runs.
U-M’s NCAA tournament run under third-year coach Bonnie Stoll came to an end with a disastrous fourth and fifth innings in which Hoehn gave up a combined seven runs in the rematch with UCF, falling 10-8 at McCombs Field in Austin, Texas, in the Austin regional. That followed a 16-4 loss to Texas in which U-M was run-ruled by the overall 6-seed.
THE OPENER: Michigan softball opens 2025 NCAA Tournament with rally for 4-3 win over UCF
In the day’s second game, the Wolverines (39-21) allowed four runs in the fourth inning to fall into a 7-4 hole, rallied for an 8-7 lead, then gave up three more runs in the fifth inning. Izzy Mertes homered to left off Hoehn, the Wolverines’ sophomore relief ace to tie it. The Knights then strung together three singles around a walk from Hoehn to take the lead with two more runs for a 10-8 lead before Derkowski, who pitched the first three innings, returned to get the final two outs of the fifth.
Needing a win to advance to the regional final against the Longhorns, U-M backed Derkowski with four runs in the first three innings, highlighted by a pair of runs in the third on singles by shortstop Avery Fantucci and center fielder Jenissa Conway.
But when Hoehn relieved Derkowski to open the fourth, she ran into trouble with two outs, with a hit-by-pitch followed by a pair of errors by Fantucci, a bases-loaded walk and a double by UCF’s Sierra Humphries to give the Knights a 7-4 lead.
U-M stormed back with a trio of runs in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with no outs before freshman star Lauren Putz singled and right fielder Ella Stephenson walked to make it a one-run game. Catcher Lilly Vallimont then grounded into a double play to knot the game at 7. Ellie Sieler gave U-M a short-lived lead with a single to right off a 3-2 pitch from Isabella Vega, who got the win in relief for UCF with four innings of one-run work.
UCF, which lost its NCAA opener to U-M (4-3) on May 16 before rebounding with wins over Eastern Illinois (10-2) and U-M, will face regional host Texas at 1 p.m. May 18 in the regional final. Texas can advance to the Super Regional round against the winner of the Clemson regional with a single win, while UCF would need a win in the first game and another in a potential rematch at 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan softball knocked out of 2025 NCAA Tournament, 10-8, by UCF
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After being eliminated from the 2022 tourney by UCF — in legendary coach Carol Hutchins’ final game — the Wolverines were bounced by the Knights again on Saturday, May 17, as the dynamic mound duo of Lauren Derkowski and Erin Hoehn were zapped for double-digit runs.
U-M’s NCAA tournament run under third-year coach Bonnie Stoll came to an end with a disastrous fourth and fifth innings in which Hoehn gave up a combined seven runs in the rematch with UCF, falling 10-8 at McCombs Field in Austin, Texas, in the Austin regional. That followed a 16-4 loss to Texas in which U-M was run-ruled by the overall 6-seed.
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THE OPENER: Michigan softball opens 2025 NCAA Tournament with rally for 4-3 win over UCF
In the day’s second game, the Wolverines (39-21) allowed four runs in the fourth inning to fall into a 7-4 hole, rallied for an 8-7 lead, then gave up three more runs in the fifth inning. Izzy Mertes homered to left off Hoehn, the Wolverines’ sophomore relief ace to tie it. The Knights then strung together three singles around a walk from Hoehn to take the lead with two more runs for a 10-8 lead before Derkowski, who pitched the first three innings, returned to get the final two outs of the fifth.
An early lead for Michigan
Needing a win to advance to the regional final against the Longhorns, U-M backed Derkowski with four runs in the first three innings, highlighted by a pair of runs in the third on singles by shortstop Avery Fantucci and center fielder Jenissa Conway.
But when Hoehn relieved Derkowski to open the fourth, she ran into trouble with two outs, with a hit-by-pitch followed by a pair of errors by Fantucci, a bases-loaded walk and a double by UCF’s Sierra Humphries to give the Knights a 7-4 lead.
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Answering the call
U-M stormed back with a trio of runs in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with no outs before freshman star Lauren Putz singled and right fielder Ella Stephenson walked to make it a one-run game. Catcher Lilly Vallimont then grounded into a double play to knot the game at 7. Ellie Sieler gave U-M a short-lived lead with a single to right off a 3-2 pitch from Isabella Vega, who got the win in relief for UCF with four innings of one-run work.
What’s next?
UCF, which lost its NCAA opener to U-M (4-3) on May 16 before rebounding with wins over Eastern Illinois (10-2) and U-M, will face regional host Texas at 1 p.m. May 18 in the regional final. Texas can advance to the Super Regional round against the winner of the Clemson regional with a single win, while UCF would need a win in the first game and another in a potential rematch at 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan softball knocked out of 2025 NCAA Tournament, 10-8, by UCF
Continue reading...
