No. 11/8 Michigan Prevails Over Louisville 8-4

Sunday, February 16

Chapel Hill, NC

10:00 a.m.

University of Louisville

2-7

Michigan

9-0

Michigan

Louisville

Maddy Newman catches the ball at second base during the game against Lipscomb.

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

February 16, 2020 | Softball

Box Score

A sixth-inning grand slam lifts Michigan to an 8-4 win

By: Lori Harmon

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Louisville softball team wrapped up the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with an 8-4 loss to No. 11/8 Michigan Sunday afternoon at North Carolina's Anderson Stadium.

In a contest that included four lead changes and one tie, the Wolverines (9-0) used a grand slam in the sixth to beat the Cardinals in the final game of the weekend.

The teams played through two scoreless innings before Michigan broke through with a run in the top of the third. Lexie Blair was hit by a pitch, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Julia Jiminez and crossed the plate on Lou Allan's RBI hit.

Louisville answered in the home half of the inning behind Roby's three-run homer. Senior Celene Funke was hit by a pitch and junior Maddy Newman singled to put runners on for Roby who crushed a shot over straight centerfield. Her team-best fourth homer of the season put the Cards on top 3-1.

Michigan countered with three runs in the fourth. Haley Hoogenraad started the frame with a double, took third on a passed ball and came home on an RBI single by Thais Gonzalez. Taylor Bump followed with a pinch-hit home run to give the Wolverines a 4-3 advantage.

The lead was short-lived as Louisville evened the score in the bottom of the fifth. Roby earned a leadoff walk and freshman Elana Ornelas entered to run and hits by Cassady Greenwood and Caitlin loaded the bases for redshirt freshman Eden Mayo who was hit by a pitch to bring home Ornelas and tie the game at 4-4.

The sixth inning brought four more Michigan runs courtesy of a grand slam by Lauren Esman. The Wolverines used hits by Hoogenraad and Gonzalez and Madison Uden reached on an error to load the bases for Esman who put the Wolverines ahead 8-4.

In addition to Roby's three RBIs in the game, junior Maddy Newman and sophomore Cassady Greenwood had two hits apiece to lead Louisville at the plate.

Roby (2-3) took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits in 1.0 inning of relief.

Meghan Beaubein (5-0) picked up the win after giving up two earned runs on three hits and striking out two in 5.0 innings of relief. Allan, Hoogenraad and Gonzalez paced the Wolverines' offense with two hits apiece.

Louisville (2-7) will return to action next weekend when the Cardinals travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on Penn State, Wichita State and Alabama at the Easton 'Bama Bash.