Wolverines Fall Ball Wrapup With Head Coach Bonnie Tholl
11/6/2025 1:00:00 PM | Softball
By Maggie Meredith
The University of Michigan softball team played a five-game fall ball slate, beginning with one contest on the road before returning to Carol Hutchins Stadium for four consecutive games. Team 49 swept its fall schedule, scoring 46 total runs in wins over Toledo (9-0), Detroit Mercy (6-0), Saginaw Valley State (7-2), Western Michigan (11-3) and Bowling Green (11-3).
The Wolverines were looking to continue their offensive prowess from previous seasons and batted .301 with 52 hits over the five games. U-M also found its way on base with 20 walks and four hit-by-pitches. Once again, the Maize and Blue boasted eight hitters over .400, led by junior outfielder Ella Stephenson, who posted six hits, six RBI and a .545 average, .545 slugging percentage and .643 on-base percentage. Junior outfielder Jenissa Conway, a 2025 NFCA All-American, tied Stephenson for the team lead in hits and claimed the lead in RBI with seven while posting a .429 batting average and .571 slugging percentage with one home run.
Senior infielder Madi Ramey, sophomore right-handed pitcher Haley Ferguson and sophomore outfielder Megan Beemer also found themselves in the .500 club this fall. Ramey made her mark on the fall with two home runs in her 10 at-bats and tallied five RBI. Ramey ended the fall slate with an impressive 1.100 slugging percentage, second only to Ferguson, who had one homer in two plate appearances. Freshman infielder Kiley Carr, redshirt-junior catcher Lilly Vallimont and senior infielder/outfielder Indiana Langford all batted .300 or better, posting four hits over the five-game slate.
The Wolverines' pitching staff combined for a 0.93 earned-run average with a pair of shutouts and held their opponents to a .197 batting average while allowing just eight walks. Ferguson led Michigan with a 0.00 ERA and 0.63 WHIP, while junior RHP Erin Hoehn led the Wolverines in innings pitched and strikeouts.
Q&A with head coach Bonnie Tholl
Q: What were your main objectives for this fall season, and do you feel that the team met them?
A: Our goal was first to really place the newcomers into game situations and into a lot of fall situational play, whether it was in practice or whether it was in the game, to see how they acclimate to this level and this intensity of play. In that sense, we were able to accomplish that. Many of our freshmen got a lot of experience and time on the field. We mixed them together with upperclassmen. We did do a good job of introducing our newcomers to the college game and seeing how they react in those situations. The thing that we were not incredibly successful in doing was to elevate our power numbers. I thought that with the amount of returning people that we had, that we would see a lot more offensive punch. We didn't quite get that result. So, that's feedback for us, our opportunity to go back into the practice and training room and make some adjustments and make that more of our priority.
Q: Were there any first years or transfers who made a strong impression early on?
A: Absolutely. We have three infielders who are freshmen, and we've moved them around a little bit. I would say Kylie Carr had a really productive fall. She played three different infield positions in third base, second base and shortstop. Getting Lily Palko a chance to compete at this intense level, she has incredible skill, and now it's our job just to bring it out of her, to bring her voice out of her, to bring her presence in the shortstop position out of her. The third one was Siena Snyder, who is really mobile. She has the opportunity to play the left side of the infield and the right side, and she played first base as if she's played that position for years. So it bodes well for the future, and it's exciting to see the versatility of those three in particular.
Q: How have players grown since last spring, whether it be in leadership, preparation, or consistency?
A: I really want to highlight Madi Ramey. I think she was one of our top hitters in fall scrimmages and in fall games. She's just done a really nice job of managing her at-bats and being a leader in the infield. The other person I'd really highlight was Lily Palko. She worked hard this summer to really refine some of the mechanics in her swing. She's done a really nice job of creating new good habits in her swing. [We're] really happy with their leadership and their ability to get better over the summer.
Q: What are you looking for or trying to instill when a player approaches the plate?
A: Well, I think the biggest adjustment we need to make is our mental approach. I think right now we are training well physically. We're getting the reps in. They're hard workers in that sense. They like to swing the bat. They like to take extra reps. They like to work on their own as well outside of practice time. But this was my message to them as we concluded our 20 hours segment -- I want you to take reps not just to get better, but I want you to take reps to dominate and take reps to win championships. And just a little bit of reframing every time you take a rep, it makes it more meaningful. If they understand the purpose behind swinging the bat in a front-toss drill or off a tee every single time is to put themselves in that competitive championship mindset, then they're going to reap the benefits more from their training. So, I don't want them to just check a box where I've taken my eight cuts and now I'm on to the next station. I want those eight cuts to have a greater purpose mentally for our game.
Q: Were there any moments or games that stood out to you as turning points?
A: I would actually point to our intrasquad scrimmage at the end of our 20 hours, which was at the end of October here. We played what we call Wolverines Unlimited, and it was a chance for our pitchers to face more adversity, you know, facing some really talented hitters in their teammates. And it really forced some of the upperclassmen on the team to actually make decisions that a coach would typically make. We allowed them to have freedom to make their lineups and change pitchers when needed and make those sort of decisions. I think that's an empowering experience, and I want them to take ownership of their own success. I think that could prove to be a turning point for us.
