Ann Arbor, Mich.- The University of Michigan-Dearborn women's softball team (11-10, 1-3) traveled to Ann Arbor Sunday (Apr. 2) for an afternoon doubleheader with the Concordia Cardinals (23-11, 3-3). The teams battled to split the day- with the Cardinals winning the first game 3-2 in 12 innings and the Wolverines taking the second game also by a 3-2 score in seven innings.
The Wolverines have struggled on the diamond the past couple of weeks, even having series against conference rivals Cleary and Indiana Tech postponed due to inclement weather. Today's 1:00 p.m. contest with Concordia was UM-Dearborn's sixth loss in a row.
Game One
The Wolverines started the early contest with a bang when senior first baseman Makenna Millhorn hit a home run (3) in the top of the first inning, giving UM-Dearborn the 1-0 lead. However, the lead would be short-lived, as the Cardinals would come right back and tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first on an RBI double hit by Katie Tobias, scoring Koryn Playford.
In the top of the seventh, the Wolverines would take the lead back when freshman Katrina Caldwell stole third and scored on a throwing error by the Cardinal catcher, Tobias, giving UM-Dearborn the 2-1 lead. However, the Cardinals would once again tie it right away with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The game would stay tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the twelfth inning when a single by Mady Grueter scored Jada Stephenson for the 3-2 Cardinal victory.
Senior right-hander Lanie Ellinger (3-4) takes the loss for the Wolverines. In a Herculean effort, Ellinger faced 52 batters in 11.1 innings allowing 11 hits, three runs, three earned runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts.
Game Two
Game two of the doubleheader saw UM-Dearborn get back on track with a 3-2 victory.
The Cardinals got on the board quickly when Tobias scored on a throwing error by freshman catcher Emily McCalla while stealing third base, giving Concordia the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, with two runners on, Paige Maltby reached base on a throwing error that scored the two runners, giving the Wolverines the 2-1 lead.
The Wolverines would add an insurance run in the top of the fifth when second baseman Shae Scott scored on a Millhorn double.
The Cardinal would make things interesting in the bottom of the fifth when they scored an unearned run to close the gap to 3-2. That would be as close as they would get. Senior right-hander Sydni Uhlenberg would enter the game in relief of starting pitcher sophomore right-hander Hannah Koch. Uhlenberg, second in the conference last year in ERA (2.11), would once again show her dominance over WHAC hitters, striking out two and giving up zero runs for her second save of the season.
Koch had a strong outing earning her second win of the year (2-3). In four innings of work, she allowed six hits, two runs, one earned run, zero walks, and two strikeouts.
Next up
UM-Dearborn faces Indiana Tech in a doubleheader Monday (Apr 3) At Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. The doubleheader is a makeup day after Saturday's (Apr 1) contest was postponed due to weather conditions. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.
