The Michigan softball team got off to a rocky start.
But with a massive offensive burst in the fifth inning, the Wolverines completely turned the tides. Michigan (21-11 overall) struggled to stay afloat in the early innings, but ultimately pulled off a 12-3 win against Toledo (13-13) on Wednesday.
For the Rockets, however, success came swiftly as they blasted off at the top of the first inning with two back-to-back runs. After letting up two runs, junior right-hander Jessica LeBeau was relieved by graduate right-hander Hannah George, who shut down the outburst with two quick outs.
Despite coming off a three-game series sweep against Purdue in which they scored 24 runs, the Wolverines’ fiery bats were nowhere to be found as they initially floundered.
“I felt like we put some pretty good swings in the early innings on balls that we didn’t get anything out of,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “I was happy with how we were taking cuts at pitches. It wasn’t really until later on in the inning of eight (runs) that we cashed in.”
Indeed, while the Wolverines were able to connect bat to ball, Toledo’s fielders were ready, keeping Michigan down by two as it entered the bottom of the second. Momentary relief for the Wolverines came in the form of freshman center fielder Jenissa Conway and senior catcher Keke Tholl. Skyrocketing a homer apiece, they tied the game at 2-2 at the end of the third inning. But just moments after Keke’s homer, the Rockets’ right fielder Kendra Vander Lugt sped home before being tagged out to take the lead, 3-2.
In the fifth inning, sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson provided the answer for the Wolverines. Erickson shot a line-drive dinger over the left field wall to drive in two RBIs for a 4-3 lead. Leading the Rockets for the first time all game, Erickson’s missile set Michigan’s offense on a direct course for more runs.
After a two-run shot from redshirt freshman first baseman Lilly Vallimont and an RBI single from junior shortstop Ella McVey, sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford stepped up to the plate with a chance to put the game out of reach for good.
“I feel like our energy went up a little higher that inning and that translated to our bats,” Langford said. “I feel like that’s been the key to our offense this year, just keeping the energy high.”
Feeding off the energy of the team, Langford ricocheted a ball off the wall that evaded the Rockets’ left fielder’s glove as she fell to the ground. As the ball rolled around the outfield, Langford, McVey and junior left fielder Ellie Sieler saw an opportunity to solidify the Wolverines’ lead. At once, they began to round the bases. By the time Langford slid home for the inside-the-park home run, she had solidified Michigan’s 10-3 lead heading into the sixth inning.
And so, with Michigan’s offense operating at full speed, it came as no surprise when Conway launched a two-run homer over center field for a run-rule win. Gathering at home plate, the team celebrated the victory, having extended its all-time record against Toledo to 7-0.
“They know that they have worked hard and prepared well, and now they’re just trusting the preparation,” Bonnie said. “They’re riding that really good momentum of confidence. This is the time of the year where you can just let it flow. It doesn’t mean that it’s going to be perfect, but you just know that you have prepared well. This is the fruits of their labor right now.”
While the Wolverines managed to steady their course and find balance late into the game thanks to their eight-run fifth inning, there’s no guarantee that they will be as fortunate in the future, especially against conference opponents. Now more than ever, Michigan will need to maintain its focus on consistency to avoid falling into early holes because not all sinking ships make it back to harbor.