Wolverine Rally Falls Short in NCAA Regional Finale

Sunday, May 21

Seattle, Wash.

4:00 PM PT

Michigan

43-13-1

Washington

46-11

Washington

Michigan

Abby Ramirez

5/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 20 Michigan put the tying run on base in the seventh inning but could not complete the comeback, falling to No. 6 seed Washington, 4-2, in the NCAA Regional championship.
» Faith Canfield knocked out a first-inning solo homer, and Aidan Falk went 2-for-3 and posted the game-tying double in the sixth.
» Washington used a two-run double in the sixth to score the go-ahead runs.
» Michigan was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, finishing its season with a 43-13-1 record.

Site: Seattle, Wash. (Husky Softball Stadium)
Event: NCAA Regional (Day 3 of 3)
Score: #7 Washington 4, #20 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (43-13-1), UW (46-11)
Next U-M Event: Season Complete

SEATTLE, Wash. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team could not complete its seventh-inning rally, leaving two runners stranded in the bottom of the frame to fall to No. 6 seed Washington, 4-2, in the NCAA Regional championship on Sunday afternoon (May 21) at the Husky Softball Stadium. With the loss, the Wolverines were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.

For the second time in as many days, Michigan used a first-inning home run to take the initial lead against Washington but ultimately gave up the go-ahead runs on a bases-loaded double in the top of the sixth. Sophomore second baseman Faith Canfield provided the early advantage with a two-out solo blast over the leftfield wall -- her ninth long ball of the season.

The Huskies used a two-run homer of their own to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, but junior rightfielder Aidan Falk evened the game with an RBI double in the fourth, following a Canfield HBP with a roped two-bagger -- her 19th of the season -- to the right-center wall. Falk headlined the Wolverine offense all weekend, batting .500 (6-for-12) with six RBI over the four-game regional.

Senior RHP Megan Betsa (25-10) got out of bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth frames but could not repeat the feat in the sixth as Washington smacked a two-out, two-strike, two-run double down the leftfield line -- which proved to be the game-winning tallies.

Michigan earned back-to-back singles from Falk and junior first baseman Tera Blanco to put two on with no outs in the seventh but could not move the runners.

Betsa struggled with free bases in the contest -- nine walks and two hit batters -- but was largely able to minimize the damage, striking out nine while allowing five hits. She finishes her collegiate career ranking among Michigan's all-time leaders in several categories, most notably listing third in both career wins (102) and career strikeouts (1,201).

In addition to Betsa, seniors Kelly Christner, Lindsay Montemarano and Abby Ramirez appeared in their final game in the Maize and Blue. The quartet contributed to a 202-43-1 record over its Michigan tenure with three Big Ten titles and two appearances in the Women's College World Series.