BREAKING: Michigan defeats Kentucky with home runs to go to the NCAA Tournament sideline
Fueled by a pair of two-run home runs and strong performances from their secondary pitchers, the Michigan softball team extended their postseason, avenging their previous loss to Kentucky in an elimination game on Saturday night.
Just 30 minutes after their dramatic walk-off win against Northern Colorado, the Wolverines scored twice in both the second and third innings to defeat the Wildcats 4-2, advancing to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan will face No. 5 Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday and will need to defeat the Cowboys twice to move forward.
The Wolverines (43-17) are eager for their shot at Oklahoma State after winning both elimination games on Saturday. Michigan managed only six hits but made them count. In the second inning, Lilly Vallimont hit a home run down the left-field line, scoring Jenissa Conway, who had reached base after being hit by a pitch, making it 2-0.
In the third inning, Indiana Langford started with a single, followed by Keke Tholl’s team-leading 14th home run to left field, pushing the score to 4-1 and driving Kentucky’s ace Stephanie Schoonover out of the game.
Michigan only added one more single for the rest of the game, but their early damage was sufficient to hold off the Wildcats. With ace Lauren Derkowski resting, Erin Hoehn delivered four strong innings, improving her record to 15-5 by allowing eight hits, two unearned runs, and no walks in her first postseason appearance. Kentucky, who had previously beaten Michigan 4-3 on Friday, scored in the third and fourth innings but left seven runners stranded compared to Michigan’s three.
Hannah George earned her second save of the season, pitching three shutout, no-hit innings in relief. Although Kentucky didn’t strike out, they only advanced a runner to third base twice and ended the game with nine consecutive outs.
Michigan is more confident heading into Sunday, but they face a formidable challenge against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, with a 46-10 record and led by potential All-American pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, have outscored Northern Colorado and Kentucky 12-2 this weekend and are 19-1 at home this season. Oklahoma State’s only home loss was to No. 1 Texas, and they have a strong record of 6-2 against the top six teams in the country.
Despite their tough road ahead, Michigan will embrace any opportunity after their Saturday performance, which showed their resilience and determination to continue their postseason journey.