TAMPA, Fla. – With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Alyssa Wiebel drew a walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but nationally-ranked Michigan fought off the Redbird softball team's rally to hold on for the 5-4 victory on Friday afternoon.
BIRD BITS
Top Offensive Players:
Pitching Breakdown:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS
- No. 17/14 Michigan scratched a run across in the first inning, before adding another in the second on an error and wild pitch.
- Alyssa Wiebel smashed a lead-off home run to right-center field in the home half of the second inning to put ISU on the board.
- A second wild pitch by the Redbirds sent another Wolverine across home plate to help Michigan regain a two-run lead, before a sac fly to right field pushed the Wolverines to a 4-1 advantage in the third.
- Senior Kadi Borries launched her first career home run over the left field wall to lead off the third for ISU, bringing the Redbirds back within two. Rebecca Moffett's first career hit as a Redbird sent Kaili Chval across home plate, while Moffett put the tying run on the board for ISU on a Michigan fielding error.
- With two Wolverine runners on base in the fifth, ISU made a pitching change bringing Morgan Day to the circle. After striking out the first batter she faced, Michigan knocked a double into the outfield to send the go-ahead runner home, before Day closed the frame with two more strikeouts.
ON DECK
Illinois State will face its second nationally-ranked opponent of the weekend, when it takes on No. 7/9 Florida tonight at approximately 5:45 p.m. CT.
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