ROSEMONT, Ill. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team completed play at the NAIA Leadoff Tournament Saturday and Sunday in Rosemont, Ill.
The Wolverines dropped a pair of close games on Saturday, falling to Saint Xavier University 3-0 before being edged 3-2 in eight innings by Saint Francis University (Ind.) in a game that ended after midnight central time.
UM-Dearborn recovered quickly to sweep a pair of contests Sunday morning, rallying to top Cincinnati Christian University 9-7 and cruising to a 13-5 win over Goshen College in the finale.
The results move UM-Dearborn to 4-2 overall on the season as the team will prepare for its Spring Break trip to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., the first week of March.
The Wolverines had a hard time solving the SXU pitching from Allison Golic, who struck out 16 batters in the complete game shutout.
Samantha Torongeau (0-1) had a strong performance on the mound for the Wolverines, throwing a complete game, going seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while walking three and striking out two.
UM-Dearborn scored one in the fifth and one in the sixth to erase a 2-0 deficit against SFU. Both Wolverine runs were unearned and sent the game to extra innings. The Cougars scored the game-winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the eighth.
Erin McCune led the Wolverines at the plate against SFU with three hits and run scored. McCune (0-1) took the loss on the mound, pitching 2.1 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits. Ashlynn Henderson got the start on the mound, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits, while walking four and striking out five.
The Wolverines got back in the win column against CCU on Sunday, scoring three times in the seventh to overcome a 7-6 deficit. Rachel Clem tied the game with a sacrifice fly, followed by a two-run double from Leah Oldham to put UM-Dearborn in the lead.
Oldham led the Wolverine offense with three hits, two doubles, a run scored and three RBIs. Sarah Prashad added two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Henderson (1-0) earned the win on the mound, pitching two innings of relief, allowing no runs on two hits.
The Wolverines capped off the weekend with an offensive outburst against Goshen. Clem started the scoring in the first with a two-run triple, followed by a triple from Amber Cheplick to give UM-Dearborn a 3-0 advantage. The Wolverines scored three in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull away, including RBIs from Aspen Starr, Oldham, Amy Jarrett, and Olivia Cottom.
Madelin Skene (2-0) picked up her second win of the season after taking over on the mound in the fourth. Skene went 3.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit and striking out five.
The Wolverines begin play at the Fastpitch Dreams Classic on March 2 in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
