Michigan
Michigan claims season series over Minnesota
Within the closing stretch of a season, it’s all the time a great factor to depart your property followers with motivation to maintain coming again.
That was the case on Sunday because the Michigan softball staff (31-15 general, 11-8 Massive Ten) turned the web page following two video games full of query marks to shut out their time at Alumni Subject on a excessive be aware, as they defeated Minnesota (22-22-1, 7-11) 8-4.
The Wolverines wasted no time establishing a robust tone, exhibiting up on the plate in a means that they hadn’t within the first two video games of the collection. The underside of the primary was highlighted by a hard-hit double to left middle from graduate second baseman Melina Livingston which introduced house junior outfielder Audrey LeClair and fifth-year third baseman Taylor Bump from their single and stroll, respectively. This gave Michigan a useful 2-0 lead early.
Although they didn’t discover the scoreboard within the second, the Wolverines have been nonetheless very energetic with their bats. A single from sophomore catcher Keke Tholl and sacrifice bunt from freshman shortstop Ella McVey saved them threatening in scoring place.
The scoring adopted swimsuit within the third, as a solo shot to deep middle from senior first baseman Lexie Blair within the subsequent inning prolonged the result in three runs.
One inning later, the Gophers’ bats started to attach. Although an athletic throw from LeClair and a clutch strikeout from senior right-hander Alex Storako prevented important harm, a sacrifice fly out from outfielder Mackenzie Denton scored outfielder Natalie DenHartog to make it a 3-1 sport.
This offered Michigan with a chance to slide again into the unresponsive methods they exhibited on Friday and Saturday, however on Sunday, the Wolverines prevailed. A double from junior designated participant Lexi Voss and single from McVey saved the stress on Minnesota to generate extra scoring.
“We have been letting a number of strikes go by,” Blair mentioned in reference to the earlier days. “So the principle plan was to drive on the first degree pitch and I feel we did a reasonably good job of doing that and simply specializing in that sport plan. I really feel like the primary day … I feel we have been simply an excessive amount of in our head, attempting to be selective for pitches, guessing, issues like that. And I feel we all the time simply have a shift of vitality for the following few video games, we all know tips on how to tackle. I feel that’s the place we bounce off from there.”
However the Gophers responded. A two-run blast excessive into the outfield bleachers from utility participant Chloe Evans tied the sport, and a left-center solo bomb from DenHartog on the very subsequent pitch would shift the rating into the palms of Minnesota.
On Sunday although, the deficit was not detrimental to the Wolverines’ bats. A single from Voss to middle area and a throwing error gave Michigan further bases and scored sophomore utility participant Sierra Kersten to tie it again up. Then, a three-run homer from Tholl propelled the Wolverines to a 7-4 lead.
“To me the hero of the sport was Voss,” Michigan coach Carol Hutchins mentioned. “She’s had solely pinch-hit alternatives, and we need to reward the truth that this child has labored so arduous and she or he has additionally proven a lot encouraging indicators. And I needed to present her multiple at-bat as a result of typically one at-bat every sport is hard — as you noticed her first at-bat she struck out, however then she hit a double, and she or he hit a extremely large single.”
From there, the Wolverines locked in — each on the mound and on the plate. Following one other one-two-three inning from Storako within the sixth, the Wolverines hit one other house run, this time from graduate outfielder Kristina Burkhardt.
This was Burkhardt’s first lengthy ball of the season, a deceiving feat contemplating her position as Michigan’s lead hitter all 12 months.
“I do know she will hit it out and I’ve form of performed together with her somewhat bit about ‘when are you going to hit it over the fence?’ ” Hutchins mentioned. “She’s struggled a bit this collection and I assumed earlier than that final at-bat, simply present them how joyful you might be to be a Michigan girl, after which increase. So I used to be joyful to see it and we wanted it.”
In a means, Burkhardt’s first house run was emblematic of the Wolverines’ day on the plate as a complete. They’ve given a number of glimpses of their potential to attain runs by means of the occasional offensive explosion, however have by no means been capable of construct on that manufacturing to substantiate it.
Right this moment, in entrance of the final crowd at Alumni Subject this 12 months, it simply got here collectively.
Michigan
Michigan lands No. 3 transfer RB Haynes from Tide
Alabama transfer running back Justice Haynes has signed with Michigan, the school announced Friday.
Haynes, the No. 3 running back in ESPN’s transfer rankings, finished as Alabama’s third-leading rusher with 448 yards on 5.7 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore. He’ll have two more seasons of eligibility with the Wolverines.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound back from Buford, Georgia, started six games in his second year with the Crimson Tide after rushing for 168 yards and two scores as a freshman. Haynes was the No. 24 overall player in the ESPN 300 for 2023.
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He’ll join a Michigan backfield that must replace the production of seniors Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, who combined for 1,537 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024.
Michigan does return freshman back Jordan Marshall, who rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries in the Wolverines’ 19-13 victory over Alabama in the Reliaquest Bowl on Dec. 31. Haynes did not play for either team in the bowl game.
Michigan has added eight transfer signees following its 8-5 season under first-year coach Sherrone Moore. The Wolverines are also bringing in quarterback Mikey Keene (Fresno State), wide receiver Donaven McCulley (Indiana) and offensive lineman Brady Norton (Cal Poly) to help bolster an offense that averaged 22 points per game this season, which ranks 113th in FBS.
Michigan
Central Michigan men arrested after police chase through multiple counties
Two central Michigan men — one of whom allegedly fled to Texas and Mexico after an armed robbery — were arrested after leading police on a car chase through multiple counties, officials said.
A detective with the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office at about 11 p.m. Monday received a tip the wanted suspect had returned to the county, authorities said. A tipster told the detective the suspect was driving a GMC Yukon and provided him with the license plate number, they said.
Investigators believed the suspect was traveling to his mother’s home in Ionia and sheriff’s deputies positioned themselves to intercept the SUV, police said. They spotted the vehicle on East Lincoln Avenue and tried to pull the Yukon over. However, the suspect driver fled through the city of Ionia and onto a highway to Montcalm County.
Additional law enforcement officers joined the chase on various back roads, they said. The Yukon then traveled toward Greenville where the city’s police department took over the pursuit, officials said.
They followed the suspect vehicle into Kent County where local sheriff’s deputies deployed devices near Northland Drive to puncture the Yukon’s tires. The devices were effective, the vehicle stopped and several people exited the Yukon and ran away, police said.
Authorities searched the area on foot and used a drone to find and arrest everyone who was in the Yukon, they said.
During questioning, the SUV’s driver admitted he knew one of his passengers was wanted for armed robbery, police said. He also told investigators he was a parolee himself and was afraid of being arrested for associating with a crime suspect, they said.
Officials said three other passengers in the Yukon, a 19-year-old woman, a 17-year-old male, and a 22-year-old man, are not being charged. The three are Ionia residents. Police also said all the people who were in the Yukon are related to each other.
Police said the SUV’s driver, Diego Luis Bowerman, 21, of Ionia, was charged with fleeing and eluding police and parole violation. He was arraigned Tuesday in 64-A District Court in Ionia on a charge of third-degree fleeing and eluding police, according to court records.
A judge set his bond at $30,000 and scheduled his next court hearing for Jan. 13, 2025. Officials said he is currently being held at the Ionia County Jail.
Police said the passenger wanted on an armed robbery warrant from Kent County, Enrique Vazquez, 22, also of Ionia, has yet to be formally charged. He was taken to the Kent County Jail.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
X: @CharlesERamirez
Michigan
Oregon coach Dan Lanning shades Ohio State after Rose Bowl defeat
After a Rose Bowl blowout, in which his top-ranked Oregon Ducks were blitzed off the field, head coach Dan Lanning had an interesting quote. Still stinging from the fact that his team was completely outmatched on the field he invoked the Michigan Wolverines during his post-game presser. Surely, he knew this would draw the ire of Buckeye fans who are still stinging from the manhandling they endured at the hands of the Wolverines to end their regular season. Having lost “The Granddaddy of them all” , I suppose Lanning saw it as a chance to take a final parting shot at the team from Columbus.
While many CFP pundits believe his Oregon team got the shaft in their seeding this year, eventually you have to beat the good teams to win a Natty either way. Having to face an Ohio State team that is suddenly more motivated than ever, in the second round is not really a reward for winning the toughest conference in football though. Consider that Penn State, a team Oregon also beat in the regular season along with Ohio State, has had to play SMU and Boise State to stay alive in the playoff. We are just happy to give Lanning a final barb to toss at the Buckeyes on his way out of Pasadena.
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