KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team extended its win streak to five games with two more victories at THE Spring Games Tuesday in Kissimmee, Fla.
The Wolverines cruised to a five-inning, 21-0 win over Fisher College while avenging a loss from the season's first game with a 2-1 win in thrilling fashion over No. 22 Saint Xavier University. The wins push UM-Dearborn above .500 for the first time this season at 13-12.
Against Fisher, UM-Dearborn scored early and often, including nine runs in the second inning. Senior Olivia Cottom and sophomore Audrey Asgarally each hit their first-career home runs, while junior Madisyn Collins added her first-career long ball, a grand slam, in the fifth. The 21 runs scored tied a UM-Dearborn team record set against Concordia-Moorhead on Feb. 26, 2010.
UM-Dearborn set a new program mark for hits in a game with 22, with seven Wolverines finishing with multiple hits. Cottom was 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and six RBIs, while Asgarally was 4-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs. Collins added a double to go along with her grand slam, finishing the day with three runs scored and five RBIs.
Holly Kimes added three hits, including a double and scored three times, while Alyssa Agosta and Rebecca Feliciano each recorded two hits.
Ashlynn Henderson got her first win of the season on the mound and was nearly untouchable. She tossed all five innings, allowing just one hit and recording a career-high 13 strikeouts.
In the win over SXU, UM-Dearborn scored first with a solo home run from Makenna Millhorn, her third of the season, in the fourth. SXU tied the game in the top of the sixth, but Kayla Laquiere hit her third home run of the season in the bottom of the inning to put UM-Dearborn back up by one.
In the seventh, SXU got the first two runners on before an infield fly resulted in a double play to pull the Wolverines within one out of the win. Shortstop Amber Cheplick made an outstanding play on a ground ball on the game's final play to get the runner at first by a step, securing the win.
Erin McCune was strong on the mound again for the Wolverines, improving to 6-4 on the year. She tossed six-plus innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out two and walking two. Madelin Skene, the reigning WHAC Player of the Week, picked up the save, her second of the season, in relief.
UM-Dearborn closes its trip with two more on Wednesday, starting against Concordia University (Neb.) at 10:15 am, followed by a matchup with NCAA DII Bemidji State University at 12:15 pm.
