VIERA, Fla. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn (3-1) softball team saw their strongest competition of the season on Tuesday (Feb. 28) on day two of the USSSA Space Coast Games. UM-Dearborn took down Ave Maria (6-2) 6-3 in game one, while the nightcap saw a rematch of the Wolverines' opening round game of the 2022 NAIA National Tournament when they took on No. 4 Southeastern University (3-6). Unfortunately, the Wolverines dropped game two 1-0 in a neck-and-neck contest the entire way.
Game One
Neither team could scratch anything across in the first three innings of the contest. However, Makenna Millhorn changed that in the fourth inning as she sent a blast over the right field fence to give UM-Dearborn a 1-0 lead. Ave Maria tied the contest in the top of the sixth on a sac fly, but the Wolverines would not take long to answer.
In the bottom of the sixth, Millhorn and Lanie Ellinger lead off the inning with back-to-back doubles to break the tie. The next batter, Marisa Vermiglio, moved Ellinger over on a sac bunt, and an errant throw scored Ellinger from third. With nobody out, freshman catcher Emily McCalla recorded her first collegiate hit as she drove a double to left-center scoring Vermiglio. Dearborn would score two more runs in the inning on RBIs from Amber Cheplick and Gabby Rolak.
The Gyrenes would score two in the top half of the seventh, but Sydni Uhlenberg (2-0) would get the win in relief after she closed down the game. Hannah Koch got the start throwing 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball and struck out two batters.
Game Two
The nightcap was a pitcher's dual throughout, as only one run was recorded in the entire game. Ellinger (1-1) got the nod in game two and was highly effective in the circle. Ellinger scattered eight hits and struck out six against a team who made it to the final four of the NAIA Softball World Series this past May.
UM-Dearborn had their best in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases after Millhorn drove a single up the middle. With two outs in the inning, Aspen Starr put a charge into a ball, but the Fire right fielder got an excellent read on the ball and raced back to make the catch with her heels on the warning track.
Up Next
The Wolverines play two more games on Wednesday (Mar. 1) as they take on Ave Maria at 1:30 and Huntington at 6:30.
