NORMAN, OK — Throughout the postseason, the Michigan softball team has elevated its play to compete against some of the nation’s best. On Sunday, however, it had no answer for Oklahoma.
The Wolverines (36-22) were outmatched by the Sooners (51-8). From start to finish, Michigan was unable to suppress Oklahoma’s firepower on offense. And with a quiet offensive outing from the Wolverines, the Sooners rode their electric offense to an 8-1 win.
From the first pitch, it was evident that Michigan had its hands full with Oklahoma’s offense. On just the second pitch of the game, Sooners center fielder Kai Minor roped a line drive off the center field wall for a leadoff double. With Minor setting the tone, the rest of the Oklahoma lineup followed suit. Whether it was patient batting or timely hits to drive in baserunners, the Sooners flexed their offensive depth to endlessly generate bases — jumping out to a 3-0 lead in just the first inning.
Unlike Saturday, the Wolverines didn’t throw any of their own punches in the bottom of the first. Oklahoma left-hander Audrey Lowry made quick work of the top of Michigan’s lineup, returning the Sooners to the plate.
The second inning didn’t have the same fireworks as the first, but Oklahoma continued to threaten to blow the game open. Despite working so well for the entire postseason, junior right-hander Gabby Ellis’ offspeed changeups didn’t faze the Sooners. Disciplined batting from Oklahoma generated free bases, and timely hits put the Sooners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Oklahoma shortstop Gabbie Garcia was the only score for the Sooners, but Oklahoma continued to force the Wolverines into precarious situations.
This time, however, Michigan had an answer. Junior two-way player Erin Hoehn put the Wolverines on the board with a solo shot into left center field. And while Michigan still trailed by three, the Sooners’ tight grasp on momentum began to slip.
“If our team took time to look at the stats, then they probably wouldn’t step on the field,” Wolverines coach Bonnie Tholl said. “We’re going to play the game, we’re going to respect the game, we’re going to respect our opponent and that’s how you play the game. I said in September, the very first time that we met as a team, we’re never going to over-respect somebody else, because when you over respect somebody else, you devalue yourself.”
The momentum shift was evident in the third, as Michigan forced a one-two-three inning. Hoehn made her presence felt in the circle, coaxing weak hits while catching Oklahoma first baseman Isabela Emerling swinging for her first strikeout of the game. Finally finding a solution for the Sooners’ bats, the Wolverines looked for a spark for its own offense.
But despite returning to the top of the lineup, that spark never came. Lowry tightened her grip on Michigan’s bats, forcing her own one-two-three inning. From there, Oklahoma took back firm control of the game.
Returning to the top of its lineup in the fourth inning, Minor revitalized the Sooners’ offense. Seeing just two pitches, Minor blasted a solo effort over center field to establish a 5-1 lead. In the fifth, Oklahoma’s lineup took what the defense gave it. Putting two runners on after a hit-by-pitch and a single from Emerling, the Sooners finally found the extra-base hit to blow the game open.
On the first pitch she saw, Oklahoma second baseman Ailana Agbayani unleashed a line drive double off the center field wall to drive in the Sooners’ sixth run and put two in scoring position. And as the Wolverines continued to gift Oklahoma free bases to extend the lead to 7-1, the game quickly spiraled out of control for Michigan.
“Anytime you give free bases, whether it’s hit-by-pitch or walks or errors, you’re giving the opponent extra outs,” Tholl said. “And (giving) a team that hits .390 extra at-bats is not a formula for success.”
Unable to generate any offense of their own, the Wolverines struggled to hold on. Securely in the driver’s seat, the Sooners cruised through the sixth inning. And in the seventh, Oklahoma added insurance through a solo home run from Agbayani. 8-1 up and in possession of an oppressive hold on Michigan’s offense, the Sooners closed out the game to move onto the NCAA Super Regional.
The Wolverines’ postseason journey showcased just how dangerous they can be. But on Sunday, Oklahoma proved it was too much for Michigan to handle.
