Wolverines Claim Shutout, Slugfest to Advance to NCAA Regional Championship

Saturday, May 16

Norman, Okla.

4:30 PM CT

Michigan

35-21

Binghamton

20-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Binghamton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Michigan	0	0	4	0	2	0	X	6	7	1

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Claim Shutout, Slugfest to Advance to NCAA Regional Championship

5/16/2026 11:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights vs. Binghamtom

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan earned a 6-0 shutout against Binghamton and a 12-10 rematch against Kansas to claim back-to-back elimination games and advance to the NCAA Regional championship.
» Jenissa Conway, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI against Kansas, knocked out a three-run homer in the sixth to retake the lead for Michigan.
» Gabby Ellis earned both wins from the circle, throwing a two-hit shutout against Binghamton and winning in relief against Kansas after entering in the sixth inning.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Michigan softball team claimed back-to-back NCAA Regional elimination games, earning a 6-0 decision against Binghamton before rallying to take a 12-10 slugfest in the season rubber match against Kansas on Saturday (May 16) at Oklahoma's Love's Field.

The Wolverines (36-21) advance to the regional championship game, where they will face No. 3-seeded host Oklahoma at 2 p.m. CT Sunday (May 17). Michigan will need to beat the Sooners twice to advance to NCAA Super Regionals; the "if necessary" will immediately follow game six tomorrow.

In a complete reversal of Friday night's 1-0, eight-inning pitchers' duel, the rematch between Michigan and Kansas featured 22 combined runs, including eight in the first inning, 30 hits and eight pitchers -- four on each side.

Kansas led early and late after using a four-run sixth to retake a narrow 10-9 lead. But the Wolverines answered in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore right fielder Lauren Putz drew a leadoff walk and slid in safely at second on junior left fielder Ella Stephenson's sacrifice bunt attempt to put two aboard for junior center fielder Jenissa Conway, who delivered the decisive blow, launching a three-run homer to left-center -- her 13th of the season -- to put Michigan back in front for good at 12-10.

Conway went 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI against the Jayhawks, just a double shy of the cycle. She posted two triples on the day, upping her season total to nine -- the most by a Wolverine player in more than 30 years. Putz tallied two hits and scored twice, while Stephenson recorded a hit, two runs and two RBI in the nightcap.

Michigan fell behind early after Kansas' three-run homer opened the frame, but responded immediately with a five-run bottom half on five hits -- from the inning's first five batters -- and Jayhawk miscues. With two on, Stephenson ripped an RBI single through the 5-6 hole and Conway followed with an RBI single down the right-field line. Both scored when a wild pitch got away from the Kansas catcher, who then threw the ball into left field trying to get Conway at third.

The sequence chased Jayhawk ace Lila Partridge -- yesterday's winner -- from the circle, but Michigan maintained momentum after the pitching change as redshirt junior catcher Lilly Vallimont knocked out a solo shot to left field for her 11th homer of the season.

Michigan added three more runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 8-3. Stephenson lifted a sac fly to center field and Putz scored on a passed ball before Conway smashed a triple to the wall in right-center -- despite cramping in both legs rounding the bases -- and scored when junior right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn looped a single down the right-field line

Freshman shortstop Kiley Carr, who went 4-for-5 on the day, added an RBI single in the third after senior third baseman Maddie Erickson led off with a double off the wall in left-center.

Kansas clawed back into the game with two runs in the third, another in the fourth, then its four-run sixth that gave them a temporary one-run advantage.

The Jayhawks reached with a one-out single in the seventh after Michigan retook its lead, but junior RHP Gabby Ellis (15-8) retired the next two batters with a swinging strikeout and game-ending flyout to center field. Ellis allowed two runs on three hits over the final two innings to earn the win in relief -- her second of the day.

In the day's first game, Ellis threw another complete-game gem from the circle against Binghamton in the Wolverines' first elimination game, tossing a two-hit shutout with five strikeouts. The Bearcats drew four walks and put runners on base in five of seven innings, but left six stranded.

After a quiet start at the plate, Michigan batted around to break the game open with a four-spot in the bottom of the third. Erickson, who made a great defensive play to end the top half, sparked the offense with the first hit of the game -- a leadoff double down the left-field line -- before Carr drove an RBI single up the middle to score junior pinch runner Lexi Dellamonica from second base. Following a four-pitch walk to put two on, Putz crushed a first-pitch, three-run homer to center field to break the game open.

Putz moved to second place among Michigan's all-time leaders in single-season home runs (22) and RBI (80) with the three-run shot. She is only one homer and three RBI shy of the program records, both held by Wolverine great Sierra Romero (2013-16).

The Wolverines added insurance in the fifth inning when Conway tripled off the glove of the running Kansas center fielder in left-center, and Hoehn followed with a towering two-run homer to left center -- her sixth of the season -- to stretch U-M's lead to the final margin.