The Michigan softball team’s Big Ten Tournament run is over after one game.
The 10th-seeded Wolverines dropped its opener against No. 7 seed Penn State on Wednesday in Champaign, Illinois, losing in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh.
Lillia Crouthamel opened the inning with a walk, and Melody Coombs followed with a bunt down the third-base line. Ryleigh Carricaburu’s throw to second base sailed high and rolled to the centerfield wall, allowing Crouthamel to score from first base for a 3-2 victory.
The Nittany Lions advance to face No. 2 seed Indiana on Thursday, while the Wolverines’ season is likely over without an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 1994.
Michigan (26-25) struggled down the stretch under first-year head coach Bonnie Tholl, losing its last eight games against Big Ten opponents.
On Wednesday, it twice took a one-run lead but failed to hold on. Outfielder Ellie Mataya blooped a single to centerfield with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, plating Indiana Langford for a 2-1 lead.
Pitcher Lauren Derkowski responded with a one-two-three bottom half of the fifth but ran into trouble in the sixth. PSU began the inning with a single and double, and it pulled even at two with a sacrifice fly. Another single placed runners at first and third with one out, but the Michigan sophomore got out of the jam by striking out the next two batters.
In the second inning, Carricaburu appeared to ground into an inning-ending double play, but a review showed she beat the throw to first, and the call was overturned to safe. On the play, Audrey LeClair scored from third base, sliding under the tag at home plate to put the Wolverines ahead 1-0.
Derkowski, who allowed five hits and struck out six in six innings, cruised through the first three but allowed a solo home run in the fourth to Kaitlyn Morrison.
Michigan’s offense, which ranked 12th in the Big Ten in scoring, has been inconsistent all season and squandered several opportunities Wednesday. It mustered seven hits, but only one came with runners on base. Langford had three hits to boost her team-high average to .351.
With Michigan currently sitting at No. 49 in RPI, it likely will be on the outside looking in during Sunday’s NCAA Tournament selection show. Of the 64 bids, 32 go to conference winners.
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