Wright State Softball Falls to #6 Michigan in NCAA Regionals

May 16, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Wright State softball team looked poised to pull off the upset Friday night, leading #6 Michigan 5-3 going into the bottom of the fifth. The Wolverines, however, exploded for 10 runs, including a pair of grand slams, in that frame to defeat the Raiders 13-5 in NCAA Regional action at Michigan's Alumni Field.


It took just one pitch for the Raiders to grab a 1-0 lead as Jamie Perkins crushed a solo home run over the bleachers in right center, her ninth of the season.


WSU maintained that 1-0 advantage until tacking on three more in the third. Bridget Henry was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Wright State loaded the bases on a Briauna Birl single followed by a Perkins walk. After Louie Haney struck out and Jherica Williams hit into a force out at the plate, Kristen Bradshaw blooped a single into center to drive in Birl and Perkins and Williams also came in on the play as the relay throw from center went to the backstop.


Michigan cut the margin in half with two runs in the third, but Mollie Berry answered as she hit a line drive screamer down the right field line for a solo homer, her seventh of the year, to make it 5-3.


The bottom of the inning, though, would be all Wolverines as a Nikki Nemitz RBI single followed by a grand slam to left center from pinch-hitter Marley Powers gave Michigan a 9-5 lead. After a Samantha Findlay run-scoring single, Maggie Viefhaus forced the run rule with a grand slam to right center.


Bradshaw had two hits to pace the Raider offense while Perkins scored twice.


Wright State, now 33-25 on the season, faces Kent State (44-11), who fell to Notre Dame 9-1 in the first game of the day, in the consolation bracket Saturday at 2:30. The winner of that contest will face the loser of the noon game between Michigan (49-6) and Notre Dame (38-20-1) at 5:00.
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