Wolverines Fall to Host UCF in NCAA Regional Final

Sunday, May 22

Orlando, Fla.

3:25 PM

Michigan

38-18

UCF

49-12

UCF

Michigan

Kristina Burkhardt (Michigan Photography)

5/22/2022 8:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan could not overcome an early deficit, falling to No. 18-ranked and host UCF, 9-4, in the NCAA Regional championship game.
» UCF took advantage of free bases to score four of its five runs over the first three innings.
» Kristina Burkhardt posted two hits and two RBI; Michigan pulled within two runs in the fifth before UCF surged again with a three-run sixth.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan softball team sacrificed an early lead and could never recover, falling to No. 18-ranked and host UCF, 9-4, in the NCAA Regional championship game on Sunday afternoon (May 22) at the UCF Softball Complex.

The Knights (49-12) took advantage of free bases, drawing three straight walks with bases loaded in the first and adding a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the third, to build an early five-run lead.

The Wolverines (38-18) chipped away, however, plating two in the bottom of the third and another in the fifth to pull within one. Michigan capitalized on a couple UCF errors to put two in scoring position in the former frame before graduate student outfielder Kristina Burkhardt drilled a low liner past the pitcher and up the middle to score both.

Burkhardt, who led the Wolverines with two hits and two RBI in the game, added another single up the middle -- after a leadoff walk -- to contribute in the fifth. Senior first baseman Lexie Blair sent a looping RBI single to shallow center to plate freshman shortstop Ella McVey; it was McVey's second run scored in the game as U-M pulled within two runs.

UCF answered quickly, surging ahead with three runs in the top of the six on three hits, three walks and an error. The teams traded runs in the seventh, with Michigan threatening with the first two batters reaching base. Fifth-year senior third baseman Taylor Bump drove in a run with a one-out RBI single to right, while the Wolverines moved two into scoring position on a groundout before the UCF shortstop made an impressive leaping catch to pull in a liner headed to left center and end the contest.

Four different Michigan pitchers saw time in the circle, but it was graduate student LHP Meghan Beaubien (8-7) who took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over 2.1 total innings early and late in the game.