Carol Hutchins often touted the 2019 senior class as one of the best she’s ever had.
Akul Vijayvargiya
Summer Managing Sports Editor
Softball
Last Monday, James Madison upset the Michigan softball team on its own field to punch a ticket to the Super Regional. After the handshake line, the Wolverines walked off the field for one final time, heads hanging low.
During March, April and much of May, it looked as if the Michigan softball team overcame the glaring weakness that kept it from succeeding in February.
On Monday, the scoring chances were few and far between. But they were there. She threw all 14 innings in the circle for the Dukes and allowed only one run on 10 hits –– striking out 11 batters. In the first game Monday, though, she also walked three batters and hit two more.
Tired and dejected, Michigan walked off the field. Needing only one win on Monday, the Wolverines could only piece together one run in Monday’s doubleheader matchup against James Madison, which used its momentum from Monday afternoon’s win to upset the No.
The Ann Arbor regional championship between No. 15 Michigan and James Madison started off looking to be no different than the first two times these closely-matched teams played.
The rematch between James Madison and No. 15 seed Michigan was highly-anticipated the moment the NCAA Tournament selection committee placed both teams in the Ann Arbor Regional.
Saturday afternoon, the No. 15 seed Michigan softball team will face James Madison in its second game of the NCAA Regional. The Wolverines shut out St. Francis (PA) in a run rule while the Dukes beat DePaul by a slightly smaller margin, 5-2.
Freshman catcher Hannah Carson replaced an injured senior catcher Katie Alexander Friday. She reached base three times in Michigan's 8-0 win over St. Francis (PA) to open regional play at Alumni Field.
Looking to start the NCAA Tournament off on the right foot, the Michigan softball team began its quest for a Women’s College World Series title right where it wanted to — at Alumni Field. And the Wolverines made sure they didn’t disappoint their home crowd.