Michigan softball ousted by No. 3 Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament

The Michigan softball team, which won two elimination games completed late on Saturday, could not muster much offense and used three pitchers as the Wolverines saw their season end against mighty Oklahoma.

Oklahoma, ranked No. 3, was dominant in an 8-1 win over Michigan (36-22) on Sunday. The Sooners (51-8), who have won eight national titles, including a four-peat from 2021-2024, hosted the regional at Love’s Field and advance to the Super Regional for a 16th straight season and will host.

The Wolverines have made the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons under head coach Bonnie Tholl but have not reached a Super Regional since 2016.

Michigan, after a first-game 1-0 loss to Kansas on Friday, won two elimination games on Saturday to advance for a shot at Oklahoma. The Wolverines beat Binghamton 6-0 in the first game and then earned a comeback 12-10 victory over Kansas

But after generating 14 hits in the win over Kansas and scoring a combined 18 runs on Saturday, Michigan could not generate much offense against balanced Oklahoma. The Wolverines had three hits and left two on base.

Michigan’s only run came in the bottom of the second inning when Erin Hoehn, who replaced starter Gabby Ellis in the circle during the second inning, hit a home run to center field to make it 4-1. It was Hoehn’s second home run of the regional.

The Sooners took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. They capped their scoring with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. Michigan tried to find a way to slow the Oklahoma offense. Ellis was replaced in the second inning by Hoehn, and then Haley Ferguson took over in the fifth.

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