Michigan softball NCAA postseason run ends with 9-4 loss to UCF in regionals

Michigan softball gave up three runs on three RBI walks within the first inning of a must-win sport and by no means recovered.

The Wolverines misplaced 9-4 to No. 16-seed and host UCF within the NCAA Event regionals on Sunday, ending their season. They used 4 pitchers and Kristina Burkhardt had two RBI. Michigan left 9 runners on base. For the Knights, it marks this system’s first journey to the Tremendous Regionals.

Michigan, led by Alex Storako’s 12 strikeouts, defeated South Dakota State, 4-1, in an elimination sport earlier on Sunday after the sport was postponed Saturday evening due to extreme climate. UCF swept Michigan in the course of the regional, having defeated the Wolverines 3-2 in 11 innings on Saturday within the double-elimination Regional.

Advancing within the NCAA postseason has been difficult in recent times for the Wolverines. They haven’t gained a Regional since 2016 – there was no NCAA Event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – additionally the final 12 months they made a World Sequence. Michigan has not hosted an NCAA Regional since 2019.

The Knights took a 3-0 lead within the first inning because the Wolverines’ pitching struggled. Beginning pitcher Meghan Beaubien walked in two runs then was changed by Annabelle Widra who walked in one other run earlier than getting out of the inning.

They constructed a 5-0 lead within the third inning, however within the backside of the inning,  Burkhardt, a graduate switch from North Carolina, singled up the center to attain two runs. The Wolverines pulled inside 5-2 however stranded runners at second and third.

Lexie Blair scored one other run within the fifth inning on a single up the center to make it 5-3. Michigan didn’t capitalize, although, leaving runners on second and third.

UCF added one other run on a sacrifice fly within the seventh. Michigan, which finishes the season 38-18, additionally added a run within the remaining inning. Michigan coach Carol Hutchins, who accomplished her thirty eighth season with the Wolverines and is the sport’s winningest coach, hugged every of her gamers after the season ended.