Michigan trounces Michigan State in 15-3 run-rule win with dominant third inning

After dropping Friday’s game, the Michigan softball team showed what its batting lineup can be at its finest.

The Wolverines (26-9 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) defeated Michigan State (10-17, 2-7), 15-3, in five innings in a dominant offensive performance on Saturday. 

The Wolverines began the first inning poorly, with the fielding struggling to stop the four straight singles sophomore right-hander Erin Hoehn allowed. The Spartans put one run across the plate, but a brilliant unassisted double play from senior shortstop Ella McVey sent Michigan State packing with three runners stranded. Sophomore outfielder Jenissa Conway erased the Spartans’ lead with a home run over the center wall to tie the game up 1-1 at the end of the first. 

In the second, though, Michigan found themselves in the same situation as the Spartans in the first. Despite having the bases loaded, neither freshman designated player Lauren Putz nor sophomore outfielder Ella Stephenson could plate any additional runs after senior left fielder Ellie Sieler’s run home earlier off a great third line bunt from junior infielder Madi Ramey. The Wolverines ended the inning up 3-1, but they’d once again set the table only to not eat. 

Michigan wouldn’t make that mistake in the third. The Wolverines exploded for 11 runs in the inning, building their advantage through single after single.

The bottom of the lineup, which has struggled this season, stepped up. Ramey, McVey and junior second baseman Indiana Langford had three straight RBIs before sophomore outfielder Jenissa Conway slammed her second home run of the day over the center-field wall.

This one was a three-run home run to put Michigan up 9-1, but the Wolverines weren’t done yet. In its longest inning of the season, Michigan was just one batter short of cycling through its entire batting lineup three times.

Stephenson and redshirt sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont both scored before Ramey nailed a two-run home run over the left-field wall to send herself and Sieler home. Putz grounding out with the bases loaded to end the inning didn’t even dampen a jubilant crowd, who gave the Wolverines a standing ovation as they walked off the field having plated 11 runs in a single inning.

Their previous season high was six against Troy, also in the third inning. Michigan feasted on errors from the Spartans, taking advantage of their two errors to get on base and plate a run, and thoroughly dominated the inning on every front. 

Two home runs from the Wolverines certainly helped their lead, but it was the small-ball play, especially by the lower third of the order that really made the difference in the third. The RBI single and RBI fielder’s choice from Ramey and McVey set the table for Langford’s single and Conway’s homer.

Later in the inning, it was again Ramey, who, in just two at-bats, recorded two runs, two hits, three RBIs and a home run. It was exactly what the Wolverines needed from a bottom half of the lineup that has had so many difficulties throughout the season. 

Michigan State recorded a two-run home run in the fifth against freshman right-hander Hayley Ferguson, but it was too little too late. Michigan had clinched victory two innings before. No doubt a bittersweet one after the loss yesterday, but nonetheless, a much-needed —and dominant — win for the Wolverines.

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