Wolverines clinch first ever WHAC crown with win at SHU

Wolverines clinch first ever WHAC crown with win at SHU

ADRIAN, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team rebounded from a heartbreaker on Friday night, heading down to Siena Heights University to conclude game two of an early-season doubleheader, looking to claim a share of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season title.

The game resumed in the top of the eighth inning with the Wolverines batting. With runners on first and second with no outs Gina Verduzco (JR/Portage, MI) singled to load the bases. Sarah Prashad (SO/Mississauga, Ontario) grounded into a fielder's choice on the next play and a SHU error allowed two runs to score to put UM-Dearborn up 6-4. RBIs from Ellie Kauten (JR/Shelby Township, MI) and Rachel Clem (SO/Stevensville, MI) made it 8-4, while a double steal brought home another to give the Wolverines a five-run cushion heading to the bottom of the inning.

SHU managed to get a two-run home run to cut the UM-Dearborn lead to 9-6, but the Saints were shut down by Verduzco, who moves to 14-5 on the mound this season.

The win moved UM-Dearborn into a three-way tie for first place at 16-4 in the WHAC. The Wolverines share the regular-season title with Davenport University and Madonna University. The WHAC championship is the first in the 10-year history of the softball team and is the first for any Wolverine team since the school joined the conference in 2004.

The Wolverines conclude the regular season with a record of 27-8 as the team moves to the WHAC Tournament, scheduled to start Wednesday at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio.

WHAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Wednesday, May 3
Game A: #1 Davenport (16-4, 38-6) vs. #8 Lawrence Tech (8-12, 22-26), 6 p.m.
Game B: #4 Aquinas (12-8, 34-11-1) vs. #5 Northwestern Ohio (11-9, 30-23), 6 p.m.
Game C: #2 Madonna (16-4, 27-12) vs. #7 Siena Heights (10-10, 25-16), 6 p.m.
Game D: #3 Michigan-Dearborn (16-4, 27-8) vs. #6 Concordia (11-9, 20-29), 6 p.m.
Game E: Loser Game A vs. Loser Game B, 8:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game F: Loser Game C vs. Loser Game D, 8:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game G: Winner Game A vs. Winner Game B, 8:30 p.m.
Game H: Winner Game C vs. Winner Game D, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 4
Game I: Loser Game H vs. Winner Game E, 2 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game J: Winner Game F vs. Loser Game G, 2 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game K: Winner Game G v.s Winner Game H, 4:30 p.m.
Game L: Winner Game I vs. Winner Game J, 4:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game M: Loser Game K vs. Winner Game L, 7 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Friday, May 5 - Championship
Winner Game K vs. Winner Game M, 3 p.m. (If necessary game to follow)

All games played in Sylvania, Ohio.