NORMAN, OK — Up until this point, the Michigan softball team relied on the elite talent riddled throughout its lineup to overwhelm opponents. On Friday, that talent was nowhere to be found.
Despite going eight innings against Kansas, the Wolverines’ lineup was shutout from start to finish. From the top of the lineup to the bottom, Michigan was unable to generate runs from the seven bases they found. And while heroic pitching from junior right-hander Gabby Ellis kept the game deadlocked at 0-0, the Jayhawks manufactured the decisive blow in the bottom of the eighth while the Wolverines continued to hesitate in the batter’s box.
“We just could not get anything going offensively ourselves to help the cause and score runs,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “That was really the name of the game.”
From the start, it was evident that the Wolverines weren’t going to bring the same offensive firepower that they displayed in the Big Ten Tournament. Kansas right-hander Lila Partridge made her presence felt early, coaxing weak hits to force a one-two-three inning in the top of the first. From there, Partridge only tightened her grip on the Michigan offense — delivering changeups and offspeed pitches that disrupted the Wolverines’ rhythm. Tormenting Michigan’s bats all game long with that versatility, Partridge dispatched three strikeouts and conceded just six hits while playing all eight innings.
“(Partridge) did an outstanding job,” Tholl said. “She disrupts the timing of the hitter. … Athletes are too good these days to really throw the ball by them consistently, but if you can change the speeds and coax weak ground balls or pop ups, then you’re in business.”
The Wolverines did find success off Partridge’s pitches, however. Michigan manufactured bases, but was unable to capitalize on them. In the top of the second inning, senior first baseman Madi Ramey rifled the second pitch she saw into right center field. Ramey was immediately followed by a hard hit single straight through center field by freshman shortstop Kiley Carr, giving the Wolverines their first scoring opportunity of the game. But just as Michigan regained momentum, Partridge once again got the best of the Wolverines. Using another offspeed pitch, Partridge forced a weak pop up from senior third baseman Maddie Erickson to close out the inning — stranding Carr and Erickson.
“We have a tendency to slow down bat speed when we know they have an offspeed or a changeup that disrupts the timing,” Tholl said. “I think that’s what we need to be better at, and it’s okay for us to swing and miss.”
This trend continued throughout the game. Despite a lackluster Big Ten Tournament, star slugger sophomore right fielder Lauren Putz posed a serious threat to break the deadlock. She went 2-for-4, using her power to rope base hits past the infield. Although its star player was producing, Michigan was unable to find the necessary support to bring her home. In the top of the eighth inning, Putz stepped and unleashed a single to right field for the go-ahead run. But despite having one out and momentum on their side, the Wolverines stalled. Partridge forced weak pop up hits from junior left fielder Ella Stephenson and junior center fielder Jenissa Conway. With its window of opportunity vanishing, Michigan’s inability to convert came back to haunt them.
The Jayhawks took full advantage of the Wolverines’ inefficiency. After loading the bases, Kansas swiftly delivered the knockout punch with a strong hit to left center field. The Jayhawks demonstrated what the Wolverines’ bats lacked all night long: a timely decisiveness with the game on the line.
Michigan showed glimpses of its offensive prowess on Friday. But without the assertion to drive those glimpses in, Kansas was given just enough to punish the Wolverines’ hesitation.
NORMAN, OK — Up until this point, the Michigan softball team relied on the elite talent riddled throughout its lineup to overwhelm opponents. On Friday, that talent was nowhere to be found.
Despite going eight innings against Kansas, the Wolverines’ lineup was shutout from start to finish. From the top of the lineup to the bottom, Michigan was unable to generate runs from the seven bases they found. And while heroic pitching from junior right-hander Gabby Ellis kept the game deadlocked at 0-0, the Jayhawks manufactured the decisive blow in the bottom of the eighth while the Wolverines continued to hesitate in the batter’s box.
“We just could not get anything going offensively ourselves to help the cause and score runs,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “That was really the name of the game.”
From the start, it was evident that the Wolverines weren’t going to bring the same offensive firepower that they displayed in the Big Ten Tournament. Kansas right-hander Lila Partridge made her presence felt early, coaxing weak hits to force a one-two-three inning in the top of the first. From there, Partridge only tightened her grip on the Michigan offense — delivering changeups and offspeed pitches that disrupted the Wolverines’ rhythm. Tormenting Michigan’s bats all game long with that versatility, Partridge dispatched three strikeouts and conceded just six hits while playing all eight innings.
“(Partridge) did an outstanding job,” Tholl said. “She disrupts the timing of the hitter. … Athletes are too good these days to really throw the ball by them consistently, but if you can change the speeds and coax weak ground balls or pop ups, then you’re in business.”
The Wolverines did find success off Partridge’s pitches, however. Michigan manufactured bases, but was unable to capitalize on them. In the top of the second inning, senior first baseman Madi Ramey rifled the second pitch she saw into right center field. Ramey was immediately followed by a hard hit single straight through center field by freshman shortstop Kiley Carr, giving the Wolverines their first scoring opportunity of the game. But just as Michigan regained momentum, Partridge once again got the best of the Wolverines. Using another offspeed pitch, Partridge forced a weak pop up from senior third baseman Maddie Erickson to close out the inning — stranding Carr and Erickson.
“We have a tendency to slow down bat speed when we know they have an offspeed or a changeup that disrupts the timing,” Tholl said. “I think that’s what we need to be better at, and it’s okay for us to swing and miss.”
This trend continued throughout the game. Despite a lackluster Big Ten Tournament, star slugger sophomore right fielder Lauren Putz posed a serious threat to break the deadlock. She went 2-for-4, using her power to rope base hits past the infield. Although its star player was producing, Michigan was unable to find the necessary support to bring her home. In the top of the eighth inning, Putz stepped and unleashed a single to right field for the go-ahead run. But despite having one out and momentum on their side, the Wolverines stalled. Partridge forced weak pop up hits from junior left fielder Ella Stephenson and junior center fielder Jenissa Conway. With its window of opportunity vanishing, Michigan’s inability to convert came back to haunt them.
The Jayhawks took full advantage of the Wolverines’ inefficiency. After loading the bases, Kansas swiftly delivered the knockout punch with a strong hit to left center field. The Jayhawks demonstrated what the Wolverines’ bats lacked all night long: a timely decisiveness with the game on the line.
Michigan showed glimpses of its offensive prowess on Friday. But without the assertion to drive those glimpses in, Kansas was given just enough to punish the Wolverines’ hesitation.
