Ashley Lane did it again.

A day after hitting a two-run, walk-off home run in game one, the senior second baseman came through in the clutch again. This time, a two out double in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Michigan the lead in game three.

After falling to Louisiana-Lafayette in game two, 5-0, the Wolverines were able to come away with the victory in game three by a score of 2-1. With the win, Michigan will advance to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2009. It also marks the 10th WCWS for the Wolverine’s in the last 18 years — all under Hutchins.

“I’m so proud of my kids and their effort today,” said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. “I’m most proud of my senior class; they told me all year that they were going to go to Oklahoma and they were determined. Determination is pretty important, so I’m excited for them and I’m proud of them and I love them.”

But until the Lane double, Michigan’s offense had failed to produce any scoring all day. With two outs in the fifth inning, freshman Sierra Romero was hit by a pitch, followed by junior Caitlin Blanchard, who roped a single to right field advancing Romero to third, setting the stage for Lane’s double.

“Something good was bound to happen, so I’m pumped,” Lane said. “I’m so excited, I can’t even express- I’m stumbling right now. I’m just happy I could do that for my team.”

After she struggled with her command in game two, sophomore Sara Driesenga returned to form in Game 3, looking like the ace she has been all season. She recorded seven strikeouts while scattering four hits and giving up only one run in the final game. However, just minutes from the game, Driesenga wasn’t even slated to be the starting pitcher. An injury to sophomore left-hander Haley Wagner during warmups — just minutes before first pitch — thrust Driesenga into the starting lineup.

“We both warm up before every game so we’re both ready to go no matter what, ready to pick each other up,” Driesenga said.

Added Hutchins. “I thought Sara came up real big, she was a last minute add as you may or may not have realized but she did a fantastic job and I’m really proud of her.”

Michigan was forced into the winner-take-all game three because of a combination of unusually cold bats along with some pitching struggles. Two innings ultimately doomed the Wolverines in game two as ULL scored three runs in the fourth and two in the sixth. It was Michigan’s first time being shut out and first time losing at Alumni Field.

In the fourth inning, Driesenga replaced Wagner, who had held the rajin’ Cajuns scoreless so far. Dreisenga soon ran into trouble as the second hitter she faced, senior catcher Sarah Draheim, hit a homer un that was just out of reach of the outstretched glove of a jumping junior Lydsay Doyle. With one runner on, Driesenga surrendered another home run, this one to freshman Sarah Corbello to deep center field for a 3-0 lead.

ULL added to its lead in the sixth when Draheim hit her second home run, this time a solo shot, to give the Rajin’ Cajuns the 4-0 lead. An infield error by Michigan allowed another run to score, pushing the score to its final score of 5-0.

Michigan’s high-powered offense was held in check for the most part in both games by Jordan Wallace, who recorded 16 strikeouts while only giving up nine hits in 13 innings of work. The Wolverines didn’t do themselves any favors, though, stranding 16 runners over the course of both games.

“Jordan Wallace and that team is as tough a team as you ever play,” said Hutchins. “We’re fortunate to come out of here with a win. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

With the win, Michigan will advance to its 10th Women’s College World Series in the last 18 years — all under Hutchins. However, the focus for Hutchins and Michigan will be on the present, without any regard to what the implications of the season are.

“It couldn’t be more exciting for this team,” Hutchins said. “This is Team 36 and I’m all about that. It’s not about the past and it’s not about the future. I’m excited for these kids, now.”