Michigan softball team fell 1 step short of the Women's College World Series

A strong belief that a trip to the Women’s College World Series was within reach motivated the Michigan softball team all season. It also led to shock when, on a humid Friday afternoon, the second-ranked Wolverines’ season ended on their home field with a 4-3 loss to No. 15 Tennessee.

“For us to go down scoreless (Thursday) night and today pulling some runs, last night was really unusual for us, and we haven’t lost here in a really long time,” senior center fielder Molly Bausher said. “That broke a winning streak at home. That’s a big upset to us.

“We didn’t expect it at all.”

Michigan senior Nikki Nemitz pitches against Tennessee on Friday in an NCAA Super Regional game. Tennessee beat Michigan, 4-3.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Michigan’s inability to score and the struggles of its All-American pitchers against the Lady Volunteers led to a disappointment that left the Wolverines flustered on the field and baffled off of it.

It’s why through their tears Friday night, they couldn’t believe their season was over.

“This is the best softball team I’ve ever been a part of and for us to not achieve what our goal was when we stepped on campus in September is heartbreaking,” junior first baseman Dorian Shaw said. “And we knew the whole time what was on the line, and that’s the way it goes. It hasn’t set in that I’m not going to be packing my bags and getting on a plane for Oklahoma City on Tuesday or whatever day they may leave.

“I’m sure when I go home and I sit down and I watch the rest of the games, it’s going to hurt. I can’t do anything about that.”

The hurt Shaw felt extended to what Michigan will lose. The Wolverines, who finished 49-8, had one of their best teams in school history. Six seniors will depart, including the All-American pitcher Nikki Nemitz and co-Big Ten Player of the Year Maggie Viefhaus.

In all, Michigan will lose its Nos. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9 hitters from the lineup. It’ll also lose, in Nemitz, one of its ace pitchers.

“Of course,” Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins said. “It’s tough to see them go.” Michigan’s senior class compiled four 45-plus win seasons. It won or shared three Big Ten regular-season titles.

The Wolverines won regional championships in each of the seniors’ four years and made the WCWS in 2009.

It expected to be there again this year, too, but fell short. In the immediate aftermath of Michigan’s loss Friday, it was still setting in. Next week, it’ll be there for sure.

“Once you see it an you’re not there and you realize that’s where you should be, you should have been all along, you wish you could have been there,” Bausher said. “Not to take away from Tennessee, they are a really good team.

“But we had the whole package this year to go all the way. And we let it slip away.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein