Home Runs Doom Wolverines in Losses to No. 6 Florida, Host USF

Saturday, February 12

Tampa, Fla.

1:00 PM

Michigan

2-1

Florida

3-0

Florida

Michigan

Ella McVey (Michigan Photography)

Home Runs Doom Wolverines in Losses to No. 6 Florida, Host USF

2/12/2022 6:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 16 Michigan fell to No. 6 Florida 4-0 and host USF 4-1 on day two of the USF Rawlings Invitational.
» All eight runs allowed by Michigan came on two-out home runs, including a sixth-inning grand slam in the Florida game.
» Ella McVey manufactured U-M's run against USF from the base path; she has already scored four runs in four games.

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF-Rawlings Invitational (Day 2 of 3)
Score: #6 Florida 4, #16 Michigan 0; USF 4, #16 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (2-2), UF (3-0), USF (3-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 13 -- vs. Kansas City (Tampa, Fla.), 9:30 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan softball team was doomed by the long ball and struggled to push across runs of its own on the second day of action at the USF Rawlings Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 12), falling to No. 6 Florida 4-0 and tournament host USF 4-1 at the Bulls' USF Softball Stadium.

All eight runs allowed on the day came off a set of three two-out home runs.

Florida busted up a pitchers' duel in the first slate with a sixth-inning grand slam. Senior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako fanned nine Gator batters through 5.2 innings and allowed three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Florida used the two free passes to load the bases in the sixth and, after a pitching change brought in graduate student left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (1-1), sent the go-ahead shot deep to right field in the next at-bat.

Gator hurler Lexie Delbrey carried a no-hitter into the seventh before senior catcher Hannah Carson broke it up with a one-out single through the right side. Michigan used a groundout to move the runner to second but no further after a game-winning flyout to right.

The Wolverines trailed early and throughout against USF after a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning -- all three runs unearned after an error at first base on a leadoff grounder.

Freshman shortstop Ella McVey got Michigan on the board with a heads-up effort on the base paths in the third, taking third base on a ball in the dirt before ambling home on the USF catcher's errant throw over her third baseman's head.

The Bulls got the run back in the fourth, with a two-out solo homer to left. Freshman RHP Lauren Derkowski (0-1) allowed just three hits -- two of them homers -- and two walks while striking out four over four innings to take the loss in her first collegiate start. Freshman RHP Annabelle Widra appeared in both games; she gave up no runs on three hits and struck out two over three innings -- also the first of her collegiate career.

The Wolverines (2-2) will wrap up the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a 9:30 a.m. slate against Kansas City Sunday (Feb. 13) at USF Softball Stadium.