SYLVANIA, Ohio – The University of Michigan-Dearborn (25-17, 13-9) softball team came up short in their third elimination game of the WHAC Tournament on Thursday (May 4). The Wolverines defeated Lawrence Tech 4-0 in their first game of the day. After taking an early 2-0 lead against the Concordia University Cardinals, the Cardinals came back and won in walk-off fashion to eliminate the Wolverines in a 4-3 game.
Game One
Aspen Starr led the Wolverines in the opener as she plated all four of the Wolverines' runs. Starr started the game with an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the first inning. Starr again came through in the clutch as she stepped up to the plate in the third inning and delivered a towering three-run blast to give the Wolverines a 4-0 lead.
Lanie Ellinger got the start in the circle going all seven innings and scattering five hits and two walks, and striking out eight Blue Devils in a shutout victory over LTU.
Game Two
The Wolverines were pitted against the Cardinals in game two. The Wolverines were sent into the elimination bracket by the Cardinals in the opening game of the WHAC Tournament. Looking for revenge, the Wolverines scored two early runs in the first inning to try and take the momentum of the contest. That strategy would prove effective as Wolverine starting pitcher Sydni Uhlenberg held the Cardinals scoreless over the first four frames.
The Cardinals would flip the script in the fifth as they tied the game on a pair of RBIs from the heart of their order. CUAA would take the lead in the sixth as they belted a solo home run over the centerfield fence to take a 3-2 lead.
Down to their final three outs, Makenna Millhorn led the inning off with a single to left center. After an Amber Cheplick SAC bunt, Lanie Ellinger was able to advance Millhorn to third and would score after an errant throw to plate Millhorn. The Wolverines were unable to scavenge anything else, bringing CUAA up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with a tied game.
After Ellinger struck out the lead-off batter, the Cardinals roped a double to right center to put a runner in scoring position. The Wolverines intentionally walked the WHAC Player of the Year to put runners on first and second Ellinger issued another free pass to load the bases, and the Cardinals scored the game-winning run after a single down the rf line, eliminating the Wolverines and putting a conclusion to the 2023 season.
