ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team had the long ball working for them on Saturday (Mar. 30) in a doubleheader sweep of the Rochester Christian Warriors. The Wolverines tagged five big flys over two games to propel themselves to a pair of victories to bring them back to .500 in WHAC play.
The Maize & Blue jumped on the Warriors for four runs in the opening frame after Lindsay Marlewitz, Brooklynn Jones, and Makaila Cooper had RBI knocks. The Warriors responded with a run in the third before Marlewitz stepped up to the plate in the top of the fourth with the bags full. The freshman infielder broke the game open for the Wolverines as she blasted a towering fly ball over the left field fence for a grand slam.
Sporting an 8-2 lead in the fifth, Grace Colclasure hit a solo shot to give UM-Dearborn a 9-2 lead. Olivia Scott followed Colclasure's shot in the sixth with the Wolverines' third long ball in as many innings. The Wolverines ended the sixth with a 12-2 lead after Jones and Cooper had their second RBI base hits. RCU scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 13-5, but the game was called after the mercy rule came into effect.
Sydni Uglenberg received the win after throwing a complete game, scattering nine hits and five walks while only giving up three earned runs.
The Wolverine bats stayed hot in game two as they scored four runs in the first two innings to break open an early 4-0 lead. The early lead was highlighted by Kendyl Gearharts first collegiate home run in a 2-3 effort for the freshman first baseman. Three innings later, Claire Muehlbrandt sends another solo shot over the outfield fence for her first collegiate home run, expanding the lead to 6-1 Wolverines after five innings.
Paige Maltby started in the circle, earning her first win of the season, throwing five innings and striking out two while surrendering two earned runs. Hannah Koch came in relief of Maltby and threw two clean innings, striking out two Warriors to secure the 6-3 victory and complete the doubleheader sweep.
