SYLVANIA, Ohio - After winning three-straight elimination games in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament, the University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team's season came to a close one game from the championship round Monday in Sylvania, Ohio.
The Wolverines held off the close to the 2017 in wins over the University of Northwestern Ohio and Concordia University, but a third game of the day went to No. 8 Davenport University. UM-Dearborn finished the season with an overall record of 30-10.
Gina Verduzco (JR/Portage, MI) pitched the Wolverines past UNOH in the opener 4-1. After the Racers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Verduzco shut UNOH down the rest of the way, tossing all seven innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits, while striking out five.
Ellie Kauten (JR/Shelby Township, MI) led the way for the Wolverines at the plate, starting with a solo home run to tie the game in the second at 1-1. In the fourth, Kauten gave her team the lead with an RBI double in the fourth, while Riley Hison (SO/Macomb Township, MI) added an RBI single later in the inning. Morgan Larkin (SO/Westland, MI) added an RBI single in the the fifth for Wolverines. Larkin, Kauten and Sarah Prashad (SO/Mississauga, Ontario) each finished with two hits in the win.
The Wolverines got a chance to avenge a tournament-opening loss to Concordia in the second game of the day, taking advantage of the opportunity behind a brilliant pitching performance by Alexandra Elwell (SR/Kalamazoo, MI). In the final start of her college career, Elwell went all seven innings in a 6-1 win, allowing one unearned run on six hits, while striking out three. Elwell closes her final season with a record of 9-1.
The Wolverines jumped out in front with a two-run double off the bat of Rachel Clem (SO/Stevensville, MI) in the second inning, while Prashad added an RBI in the third to make it 3-0. UM-Dearborn added some insurance in the fifth with a three-run double from Amy Jarrett (FR/Howell, MI). Clem and Jarrett each finished with two hits in the win.
In a 3-0 loss to Davenport, the Wolverines were held to two hits, while Verduzco took the loss on the mound to close the season at 15-7 on the mound.
The Wolverines close the season with a program record .750 winning percentage.
