Michigan
15-4
Villanova
2-17
Wolverines Split Against Villanova, No. 18 Virginia on Final Day in Charlottesville
3/1/2026 6:42:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan cruised to a 9-2 win over Villanova before dropping a 5-4 walk-off heartbreaker to No. 18 host Virginia on the final day of the Party at Palmer Park Invitational.
» UVA scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh after Lauren Putz posted a three-run double in a four-run third inning.
» Maddie Erickson posted a first-inning grand slam against Villanova, while Avery Fantucci tallied three hits and three RBI on the day.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The University of Michigan softball team dropped a heartbreaker in its Party at Palmer Park finale, falling to No. 18 host Virginia, 5-4, on Sunday (March 1) after the Cavaliers scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Wolverines earned a 9-2 decision over Villanova in their first game of the day.
Michigan carried a three-run lead into the seventh and had retired seven of the last Cavalier batters while holding them scoreless since the first inning. UVA pulled within one with a one-out single to centerfield and after a popout to short and with the bases re-loaded, walked to tie the game and looped an RBI single into shallow leftfield for the game-winning hit.
Virginia had taken the game's first lead with a walk and RBI single to center in the first inning, but Michigan answered with a four-spot in the third inning. The Wolverines loaded the bases with a leadoff walk and back-to-back infield singles, and sophomore rightfielder Lauren Putz cleared them, driving a three-run double to the left center gap before advancing to third as junior centerfielder Jenissa Conway slid in safely at home. Putz scored two batters later on senior shortstop Avery Fantucci's bouncing groundout to second.
Junior RHP Gabby Ellis (7-1) took the loss from the circle, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Michigan busted the Villanova game open early, scoring six runs in the first inning and tacking on two more in the second. Five of the Wolverines' first six batters reached base -- save a sac fly from Putz -- and U-M loaded the bases with two outs for senior third baseman Maddie Erickson, who bombed out a grand slam to left centerfield. It was her first home run and Michigan's first grand slam of the season.
The Wolverines scored on another sac fly in the second, then Fantucci, who also posted an RBI in the first, drove in another with a double off the right centerfield fence. Fantucci went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored in the contest. Senior designated player Indiana Langford and Conway also posted two hits apiece at the top of the order.
After several U-M defensive changes in the top of the third, freshman second baseman Kiley Carr plated the Wolverines' final run in the home half of the inning with a no-doubt solo homer to rightfield -- on her 19th birthday.
Villanova used a two-run homer in the fourth for its lone runs. Michigan was strong on defense, notably Erickson, who turned two double plays at third base, including a 5-3 effort to end the game.
Sophomore RHP Haley Ferguson (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing two runs -- one unearned -- on three hits and a walk. She posted one strikeout, while freshman RHP Grayson LaMarche, who started but did not pitch the minimum for the decision, fanned four Wildcat batters, including three in the first inning, and gave up three hits and one walk through three scoreless frames.
The Wolverines (15-5) will play a pair of midweek games in Virginia as part of their annual spring break trip, traveling first to Lynchburg, Va., to face Liberty at 5 p.m. on Tuesday (March 3), then heading to Harrisonburg, Va., for a 4 p.m. slate at James Madison on Wednesday (March 4). Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ferguson, Haley (1-0)
L: Kobryn, Lexi (1-6)
Batting:
2B: Police, Aubrey 1 ; Reed, Katherine 1
HR: Runco, Maranda 1
RBI: Runco, Maranda 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Morra, Jaclyn 1 ; Runco, Maranda 1
Batting:
2B: Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Fantucci, Avery 1 ; Hastings, Sydney 1
HR: Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Carr, Kiley 1
RBI: Erickson, Maddie 4 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Fantucci, Avery 2 ; Putz, Lauren 1 ; Carr, Kiley 1
SF: Putz, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 1 ; Langford, Indiana 1 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 2 ; Fantucci, Avery 1 ; Putz, Lauren 1 ; Carr, Kiley 1
SB: Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Fantucci, Avery 1 ; Putz, Lauren 1
HBP: Stephenson, Ella 1
