This weekend, the No. 16 Michigan softball team had two chances to assert itself and prove its fortitude. The first was against No. 1 UCLA (22-1). The second pitted the team against No. 22 UCF (18-5). In both matchups, the Wolverines fell short.
The losses came at 2-0 and 3-2, respectively — each the result of Michigan’s (15-8) continued problem generating runs when it counts.
Michigan’s offense continued its woes, but in sunny Los Angeles, St. John’s’ defensive struggles allowed the Wolverines to secure the win.
The No. 16 Michigan softball team (13-6) made a stop for the sixth game of its tour of the California coast, an individual contest against the Red Storm (7-14) wedged between two weekend series. The Wolverines won the matchup 4-2 on Tuesday night despite their offensive inconsistency.
Chandler Dennis entered the circle. At the plate stood Iowa State’s Hannah Carter, Dennis’s first collegiate opponent. Shortly after, Dennis got Carter swinging — strike three. That was it for Dennis’s first time on the rubber. One batter. She came in for the final out to relieve sophomore right-hander Alex Storako on Saturday in an inning where Iowa State had put up four runs on the Wolverines. Prior to Dennis’s entrance, the Cyclones were winning, 5-1.
Michigan softball was searching for a solution this past weekend. The problem: an uncharacteristic lack of offensive production. The solution: making changes to the lineup.
The Wolverines are 9-0, ranked No. 8 in the country and have outscored their opponents by a total of 25 runs. Three of the nine wins have come against ranked opponents. At first glance, the numbers are impressive; signs of a team that is playing elite softball, even against high tier opponents. But it’s not good enough.
Not for coach Carol Hutchins.
Top of the seventh, last chance for Georgia State. Sophomore right-hander Alex Storako trotted out and took her place inside the circle. With 13 strikeouts under her belt, she was just two away from tying her single-game record of 15 set last season against Michigan State.
Skylar Mosel stepped up to the plate for Georgia State. Four pitches later, she was heading back to the bench after swinging for the third strike — 14 strikeouts.
Sophomore catcher Hannah Carson stood at the plate, dialed in. Florida’s Natalie Lugo readied her pitch and delivered. The ball rocketed off Carson’s bat through the right side of the infield — two runs scored.
In October, the University of Michigan gives its students and faculty a long weekend as an annual fall break. For most, it’s a time to relax, catch up on work and spend time with family. For the Michigan softball team, it was time for a life experience.
By 6:30 AM that Friday, the Wolverines were already loading the bus for their trip. Four hours later they were in the air — destination: Cuba.
Last weekend, the Michigan softball team took on a new challenge. A challenge that had coach Carol Hutchins worrying whether she or a team member would end up in the emergency room with an axe sticking out of their leg.
Fortunately, everyone came out of the axe-throwing excursion unscathed and the team had crowned an axe champion: junior infielder Taylor Bump.
The pistol fired, sending the runners into motion at the Wolverine Invitational and signaling the beginning of the indoor track and field season for both the Michigan men’s and women’s teams.