DEFIANCE, Ohio. -- In a dramatic 10-inning showdown, the University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team battled back from an early 10-1 deficit to earn a thrilling 13-10 win over Defiance College on Saturday afternoon. The victory moves the Wolverines to 12-12 on the season and 9-5 in conference play.
UM-Dearborn struggled early, allowing five runs in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings. But a relentless offensive surge and lights-out relief pitching from Sydni Uhlenberg (W, 7-6) turned the tide. Uhlenberg tossed 7.2 scoreless innings in relief, striking out four and scattering just four hits to hold Defiance at bay while the Wolverines clawed back.
The comeback began in the 4th inning with an RBI single by Cate Pastori. A seven-run explosion in the 5th was sparked by back-to-back doubles from Claire Muehlbrandt and Brooklynn Jones, along with key RBIs from Kendyl Gearhart, Onyckah Ulik, and Francesca Badalamenti. Muehlbrandt capped the inning with a two-run double to bring UM-Dearborn within one at 10-9.
Muehlbrandt continued her standout day in the 7th with a game-tying RBI groundout, sending the game into extras tied at 10-10. In the top of the 10th, Ulik drove in the go-ahead runs with a two-RBI single that was misplayed in left field, and Mackenzie Shelton added insurance with an RBI single to make it 13-10.
Muehlbrandt led the Wolverines' 16-hit attack, going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two stolen bases. Jones added three hits and an RBI, while Ulik drove in two and scored twice.
