DETROIT - The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team picked up its first win of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference season, earning a split with Madonna University Wednesday at Buysse Ballpark on the campus of the University of Detroit-Mercy.

Madonna got the offense going late in game one to earn a 6-2 win, while UM-Dearborn used a game-winning home run from Jordan Ewald (JR/Wixom, MI) in the sixth inning of game two for an 8-7 victory. The second game was called in the sixth inning shortly after Ewald's home run due to darkness. The split moves UM-Dearborn to 12-6-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the WHAC.

UM-Dearborn grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from Kylie Hill (SR/Adrian, MI), while Madonna tied the score with a run in the third. The score remained tied until the Crusaders scored two in the fifth and sixth innings, while adding another run in the seventh. Ewald hit her first home run of the day in the bottom of the seventh to cut into the deficit, but Madonna thwarted the rally.

Gina Verduzco (JR/Portage, MI) started and took the loss for the Wolverines, going 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking five and striking out four. Sarah Prashad (SO/Mississauga, Ontario) led the Wolverine offense with two hits and a run scored.

Madonna jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second game, but the Wolverines recorded six unanswered runs to take control. The rally was led by a two-run homer from Kassidy Butler (SO/Parchment, MI), her fourth of the season, and a two-run double from Ewald.

The Crusaders bounced back and tied the game at 7-7 in the sixth with a three-run home run from Bri Giordano, setting the stage for Ewald in the bottom half of the inning. Butler and Morgan Larkin (SO/Westland, MI) each finished with three hits, while Ewald totaled three RBIs.

Verduzco entered the game in the sixth inning and was credited with the win to move to 5-3 on the season. Alexandra Elwell (SR/Kalamazoo, MI) started, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six runs, three earned on nine hits, while striking out two and walking four.

The Wolverines continue WHAC play against Lawrence Technological University at 1 p.m. Sunday in Southfield, Mich.