After a four year absence, the Michigan softball team is headed back to the College World series.
It is the program’s ninth appearence at college softball’s biggest stage, but their first since they captured their only national title in 2005. After a sweep through the Regionals and a sweep of the best two-out-of-three series against Baylor in the Super Regionals, the Wolverines have won 26 out of their last 27 games.
Both of their Super Regional games were anything but close. Led by Dorian Shaw’s three home runs, Michigan cruised to an 8-1 win in the first game Friday.
On Saturday, Michigan found itself down 1-0 after two innings. An inning later, they piled on four runs and the rout was on. Michigan added three more the following inning to finish with a 7-1 victory.
Both of the Wolverines’ All-American pitchers were stellar in their performances with junior Nikki Nemitz recording eight strikeouts and only allowing three hits in the first game. Sophomore Jordan Taylor used Nemitz’s momentum to go the full seven innings in the second game. Taylor scattered five hits and had her sixth consecutive double-digit strikeout game with 13.
The fifth-seeded Wolverines will make their debut in Oklahoma City against the No. 4 seed Alabama, who used a pair of 9-0 wins over Jacksonville State to punch their ticket to the World Series. The date and time of that game is yet to be determined.