SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team picked up its first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of the season, taking two from first-year program Lawrence Technological University Sunday in Southfield, Mich.
The Wolverines used a pair of home runs in the opener for a 6-1 win, while outlasting the Blue Devils 5-4 in nine innings in game two. The sweep pushes UM-Dearborn to 14-6-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the WHAC.
Kylie Hill (SR/Adrian, MI) got the Wolverines going in game one with a solo home run in the fourth inning. After RBIs from Sarah Prashad (SO/Mississauga, Ontario) and Taylor Moceri (SR/Sterling Heights, MI) put UM-Dearborn up 3-1, Gina Verduzco (JR/Portage, MI) put the game away with a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Moceri finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Kassidy Butler (SO/Parchment, MI) added two hits.
Gina Verduzco earned her first win of the day, pitching all seven innings, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out nine.
In game two, the Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, scoring runs on a wild pitch and an RBI walk from Rachel Dolland (SO/Lake Orion, MI), but the Blue Devils took their first advantage of the day with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Butler tied the game up an RBI hit in the fourth, however LTU responded once again in the bottom of the inning with a run.
Butler came through again in the sixth with an RBI single to send the game into extra innings. The game winning RBI came off the bat of Riley Hison (SO/Macomb Township, MI) on a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. Verduzco closed out the game on the mound to secure the sweep. Butler finished with three hits and two RBIs, while Moceri added three hits and two runs scored.
Alexandra Elwell (SR/Kalamazoo, MI) got the start on the mound for UM-Dearborn, going 4.2 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits. Verduzco (7-3) entered in the fifth, shutting the door the rest of the way. She went 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits.
The Wolverines head to No. 7 Davenport University for a WHAC doubleheader starting 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Mich.
