U-M Takes Out Illinois State, Falls to No. 6 Florida at USF Invitational

Saturday, February 7

Tampa, Fla.

9:00 AM

Michigan

3-0

Illinois State

2-3

Illinois State

Michigan

Lilly Vallimont (Michigan Photography)

U-M Takes Out Illinois State, Falls to No. 6 Florida at USF Invitational

2/7/2026 2:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan defeated Illinois State, 6-2, before falling to No. 6 Florida, 5-1, in day-two action at the USF-Rawlings Invitational.
» Gabby Ellis posted 10 strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits in her Michigan debut against ISU.
» Lilly Vallimont posted two hits and three RBI against Illinois State, while Jenissa Conway blasted a leadoff homer in the first inning against Florida.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The University of Michigan softball team split a pair of games in second-day action at the USF-Rawlings Invitational, earning a 6-2 win against Illinois State before falling to No. 6 Florida, 5-1, on Saturday (Feb. 7) at USF Softball Stadium.

Junior RHP Gabby Ellis (1-0) was strong in her Michigan debut in the day's first slate, shaking off a rocky start to post 10 strikeouts with two runs allowed on five hits through six innings. Three of ISU's hits came in the first frame as four of the first five Redbird batters reached, culminating in a two-run single to center. Ellis set down the next 14 through the fifth inning and did not allow another base runner in scoring position.

Michigan answered ISU's two-run first with three runs in the home half. Redshirt junior catcher Lilly Vallimont, who posted two hits and three RBI in the game, evened things up with a two-run single up the middle before junior RHP Erin Hoehn laced the go-ahead double to centerfield just two pitches later. Hoehn tallied four hits on the day, including three against the Redbirds.

Sophomore outfielder Lauren Putz added an RBI -- her eighth of the weekend -- with a second-inning single through the left side with two outs. Vallimont doubled down the rightfield line to plate junior outfielder Ella Stephenson in the fifth; then Stephenson drove in one of her own with a sixth-inning sac fly with the bases loaded.

In the second game, the Wolverines scored first and played Florida mostly even, but for one tough inning. The Gators broke the tie with a four-spot in the fourth, and despite putting two runners on in its next turn at the plate, Michigan could not respond.

Junior outfielder Jenissa Conway blasted a leadoff solo homer -- the first of the season for last year's team leader -- with a no-doubter to rightfield just four pitches into the game. Florida matched it with a run scored in the bottom half, using a leadoff walk and a steal to score on a two-out single to left center.

The score remained deadlocked through the next few frames until the Gators capitalized on a free base and posted four consecutive hits, including three doubles, with one out to surge ahead.

Hoehn (1-1) took the loss from the circle, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts through 3.1 innings. Sophomore RHP Kat Meyers and freshman RHP Grayson LaMarche both appeared in relief and held UF scoreless over the final two frames.

Michigan (3-1) will close out its opening weekend at the USF-Rawlings Invitational tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 8) with a 9 a.m. slate against Kansas at USF Softball Stadium.