KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team closed its 21-game, 11-day trip to Florida with two final matchups at THE Spring Games Wednesday in Kissimmee.
The Wolverines split the final two contests of the trip, falling to Concordia University (Neb.) 8-3 in the opener. UM-Dearborn rebounded to close the trip with 5-2 walk-off win over NCAA DII foe Bemidji State University, as sophomore Aspen Starr came through with a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
The Wolverines are 14-13 overall and went 12-9 in Florida.
Against CUNE, the Wolverines took an early lead with three runs in the third to go up 3-1. Makenna Millhorn doubled home two, followed by an RBI single from Starr. The Bulldogs scored the final seven runs of the game to take the contest.
Erin McCune (6-5) took the loss on the mound, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits, while striking out two in 5.1 innings.
After Bemidji State took a 1-0 lead in the first, UM-Dearborn answered in the third with another RBI single from Starr. The Wolverines took a brief lead with a Samantha Torongeau RBI single in the fifth, but a Beaver home run in the sixth tied the score at 2-2.
UM-Dearborn took advantage of a Bemidji State error and a walk with one out in the seventh, setting the stage for Starr's walk-off home run, her third of the season. Ashlynn Henderson earned her second win in two days, tossing seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits, while striking out three.
The Wolverines are near the top of the NAIA in home runs this season, ranking fifth in the nation in home runs per game with 1.04 per game entering play on Wednesday, while Madelin Skene's nine home runs is the top individually among all NAIA hitters.
UM-Dearborn will have two weeks off before opening the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference season with a doubleheader at Lourdes University at 3:30 pm on March 25 in Sylvania, Ohio.
