Michigan
7-1
Incarnate Word
8-1
Wolverines Live, Die by the Long Ball at Houston-HCU Invitational
2/14/2026 7:31:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan rolled to a 20-2, five-inning win against Incarnate Word before sacrificing a sizable late lead in a 10-9 slugfest against host Houston.
» Michigan posted 13 homers on the day, including a program-record eight against UIW; Lauren Putz knocked out two homers in each day, while Ella Stephenson totaled three.
» Houston used three homers to score six runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the walk-off.
HOUSTON, Texas -- The University of Michigan softball team lived and died by the long ball in splitting games on day two of the Houston-HCU Invitational Saturday (Feb. 14), cruising to a 20-2, five-inning win against Incarnate Word before sacrificing a late lead in a 10-9 walk-off to host Houston at Cougar Softball Stadium.
The Wolverines took advantage of a small ballpark to belt 13 homers on the day, including a program-record eight in the morning slate.
Sophomore outfielder Lauren Putz paced Michigan at the plate with two home runs in each contest, four total runs scored and six RBI. Junior outfielders Ella Stephenson and Jenissa Conway also homered in both games; Stephenson totaled four hits -- with three long balls -- on the day with four RBI and four runs, while Conway boasted seven RBI on three hits and scored four.
Michigan scored in each inning of the abbreviated game against Incarnate Word, including six runs in the fourth and eight in the fifth to push the game well into run-rule territory. All but four of the Wolverines' 20 runs -- its most in a game since tallying 24 against Toledo in 2019 -- came off home runs, including each of their first six across the opening three frames.
Freshman second baseman Kiley Carr and junior third baseman Lexi Dellamonica both came off the bench to register their first collegiate homers as part of U-M's eight-run fifth.
Freshman RHP Grayson LaMarche (1-1) posted three strikeouts and allowed one run on one hit through 4.0 innings in her first collegiate start against UIW.
LaMarche also took the loss against host Houston after entering with one out in the seventh and allowing three runs on two hits -- two homers -- and a walk. In all, the Wolverines allowed five home runs against UH, including four in the final two innings as the Cougars overcame a six-run deficit with two runs in the sixth and six more in the bottom of the seventh.
Michigan had rallied from an early two-run deficit, tying the game on redshirt junior Lilly Vallimont's looped two-out single to shallow left in the third before surging with five runs on three homers in the fifth, including a three-run no-doubter from Conway before the inning's first out.
The loss snapped U-M's win streak at four in a row. Michigan (7-2) will close out the Houston-HCU Invitational tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 15) with a 9:30 a.m. CT slate against Lafayette at the University of Houston's Cougar Softball Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LaMarche, Grayson (1-0)
L: Portillo, Sam (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 1 ; Palko, Lily 1
HR: Carr, Kiley 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Dellamonica, Lexi 1 ; Putz, Lauren 2 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 2
RBI: Carr, Kiley 2 ; Conway, Jenissa 4 ; Dellamonica, Lexi 3 ; Bennett, Reganne 1 ; Putz, Lauren 4 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 3 ; Palko, Lily 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Carr, Kiley 1 ; Snyder, Siena 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 2 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 1 ; Dellamonica, Lexi 3 ; Hastings, Sydney 1 ; Bennett, Reganne 1 ; Putz, Lauren 2 ; Vallimont, Lilly 2 ; Fantucci, Avery 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 3 ; Beemer, Megan 1 ; Palko, Lily 1
HBP: Dellamonica, Lexi 1 ; Fantucci, Avery 1
Batting:
HR: Caceres, Jaisy 1 ; Quintero, Prisas 1
RBI: Caceres, Jaisy 1 ; Quintero, Prisas 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Caceres, Jaisy 1 ; Quintero, Prisas 1
HBP: Altamirano, Victoria 1
