Wolverines Narrowly Fall to No. 2 Nebraska in Big Ten Quarterfinals

Thursday, May 7

College Park, Md.

1:30 PM

Michigan

30-20

Nebraska

44-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	4	0
Nebraska	3	0	0	1	0	0	X	4	9	3

Jenissa Conway (Chris Bernacchi/Big Ten Conference)

Wolverines Narrowly Fall to No. 2 Nebraska in Big Ten Quarterfinals

5/7/2026 5:46:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan could not overcome an early deficit in its 4-2 loss to top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
» U-M scored first, but Nebraska answered with three in the bottom of the first; both teams scored a run apiece over the final six frames.
» Ella Stephenson led U-M's hitters with two doubles and an RBI; Nebraska ace Jordy Frahm posted nine strikeouts while Michigan left nine stranded on base.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Michigan softball team battled toe-to-toe with top-seeded -- and second-ranked -- Nebraska but could not overcome a multi-run first inning, falling 4-2 to the Cornhuskers in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon (May 7) at the Maryland Softball Complex.

The Wolverines (34-20) posted four hits, including a pair of doubles from junior right fielder Ella Stephenson, and drew four walks against Nebraska ace Jordy Frahm, the 2025 NFCA DI Player of the Year, but struck out nine times and left nine runners stranded.

It was Michigan that scored first, putting its first three batters on base to manufacture a run in the opening frame. Senior designated player Indiana Langford dropped down a leadoff bunt single, sophomore right fielder Lauren Putz drew a walk, and Stephenson ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to plate the former and give the Wolverines an early 1-0 advantage.

Nebraska (44-6) answered in the bottom half of the inning, using a leadoff walk and a single through the right side to spark the rally. An infield single through the right side plated the tying run before the Huskers added runs on a squeeze bunt and a sun ball on a fielder's choice to second base.

Senior first baseman Madi Ramey reached on an error to open the fourth frame and scored on another when junior pinch hitter Erin Hoehn floated a shallow popup into center that slipped in and out of the Husker second baseman's glove. Langford drew a walk -- her second of the game -- to load the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat.

Nebraska got the run back immediately with a leadoff homer in the home half of the fourth.

Stephenson laced a leadoff double to left field -- her second two-bagger of the game -- in the fifth and junior center fielder Jenissa Conway reached on a fielding error and stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Nebraska escaped the jam, getting a popout and strikeout before Frahm snagged a sharp comebacker from freshman shortstop Kiley Carr with a reaching glove to end the inning.

The Huskers put two in scoring position with one out in the sixth, but Michigan got out of the inning unscathed -- highlighted by Conway's leaping catch at the center field wall to rob a three-run homer -- to keep the Wolverines within striking distance.

Putz drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and advanced to third on a pair of groundouts, but U-M could not advance her further as Frahm used a final strikeout to end the game.

Junior right-handed pitchers Gabby Ellis and Erin Hoehn teamed to keep a potent Nebraska lineup largely at bay. Ellis (10-7) started and took the loss, allowing all four runs on six hits and four walks through 3.2 innings. Hoehn entered with one on and two outs in the fourth and needed just two pitches to end the inning; she finished with three hits and no walks allowed over the final 3.1 innings.

The Wolverines will require an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is slated for 7 p.m. on Sunday (May 10) on ESPN2.