Wolverines Rally from Four-Run Deficit to Clinch Series Win Over Rival OSU

Sunday, April 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

29-14, 9-7

Ohio State

28-12, 8-7

Ohio State

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Rally from Four-Run Deficit to Clinch Series Win Over Rival OSU

4/24/2022 4:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

» No. 23 Michigan scored two in the first, one in the third and two more in the fourth to rally from a four-run first-inning deficit and defeat Ohio State, 5-4, in the series rubber match.
» Lexie Blair posted three RBI, including a two-run, two-out double in the fourth to push across the go-ahead run.
» RHP Alex Storako struck out five and allowed just three hits and no walks through six shutout innings in relief.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team rallied from a four-run, first-inning deficit to defeat rival Ohio State, 5-4, and clinch the weekend series on Sunday afternoon (April 24) in front of 2,372 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

The Wolverines started their rally quickly, scoring two in the bottom of the first inning after OSU used three hits, two walks and two errors to plate its four runs in the top half. Michigan reached with two hit batters, a sac bunt put both in scoring position, and senior catcher Hannah Carson lifted a sac fly into right field to push across the first run. U-M added a second on the play when the Buckeye right fielder overthrew third base.

Graduate student outfielder Kristina Burkhardt led off the third with a triple -- her sixth this season -- and scored on a groundout to pull U-M within one before the Wolverines plated two in the fourth to take the lead.

Freshman shortstop Ella McVey doubled to center and Burkhardt walked to put runners on the corners, with two outs, for senior first baseman Lexie Blair, who pounded a two-run double to the left-center gap. Blair, in her second straight start at first since returning from injury, boasted three RBI in the contest.

Senior RHP Alex Storako (19-7) entered in relief to start the second inning and tossed six shutout frames, striking out five while allowing just three hits and no walks.

OSU reached on a leadoff bloop double just inside the left-field line in the second inning -- the runner was eventually thrown out at the plate on a high hopper to McVey at short -- and Storako did not allow another Buckeye into scoring position. She went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of strikeouts.

Michigan (29-13, 9-7 Big Ten) will close out its home slate with a three-game set against Minnesota next weekend at Alumni Field. The teams will play at 6 p.m. on Friday (April 29), 4 p.m. on Saturday (April 30) and noon on Sunday (May 1). Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office, while all three games will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.