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Posted on Tue, May 1, 2012 : 11:12 p.m.

Sara Driesenga homer gives Michigan softball team a 4-2 win over Eastern Michigan

By Chris Asadian

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With two critical Big Ten series on the horizon, the Michigan softball team wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule with an extra-inning win against Eastern Michigan.

Freshman Sara Driesenga’s two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Wolverines a 4-2 win in front of 948 fans Tuesday night at Alumni Field.

It was the fifth walk-off victory of the year for the No. 23-ranked Wolverines, who beat EMU 10-2 earlier this season.

Amanda Chidester led off the ninth with a walk before Driesenga recorded the Wolverines’ eighth hit against EMU starter Lauren Wells, a shot that cleared the left-center field fence.

Ashley Lane went 2-for-3 for Michigan (34-15), including an RBI single in the fifth inning that tied the game at 2-2. (Boxscore)

Kaylee Tolliver accounted for both Eastern Michigan (21-31) runs with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth. Tolliver, Jessica Richards and McKenna Russ each had two hits against Michigan starter Kaylie Wagner.

Wagner struck out a career-high 13 EMU batters.

The Wolverines, looking to extend their Big Ten regular season championship streak to five years, end their season with three-game series against two of the four teams nipping at their heels in the conference standings.

Michigan is in first place with a 13-5 league record. Nebraska (31-18, 12-5), Purdue (30-17, 12-5), Wisconsin (31-15, 12-6) and Iowa (23-24, 12-6) are all within one game of first place.

Michigan, which has won 14 of the last 20 Big Ten titles, plays at Wisconsin this weekend and wraps up its regular season with three games against Purdue at Alumni Field on May 11-12.

Eastern Michigan, in fifth place in the six-team Mid-American Conference West Division, wraps up its regular season with a game at Notre Dame on Wednesday followed by a weekend series at Central Michigan.



BASEBALL

Eastern Michigan 5, Hillsdale 4: Tucker Rubino’s two-out, full-count, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning was the game-winner for the Eagles (20-23) at Oestrike Stadium. EMU used seven pitchers in the non-league game. Closer Joe Battistelli earned the win after pitching the top of the ninth. (Details)

Comments

Wolverine fan

Fri, May 4, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.

The Michigan pitcher is Haylie Wagner, not Kaylie. 13 K's, outstanding!

observer

Fri, May 4, 2012 : 11:13 a.m.

A very entertaining game which I watched on the Big Ten Network.....EMU played a very good game and gave UM everything they could handle....GO EAGLES.............

macjont

Fri, May 4, 2012 : 1:14 a.m.

I'm a long-time U of M fan (degrees in '67 and '75), so (despite the cold) I truly enjoyed the game and the outcome --- entertaining from start to finish, especially the finish. That being said, kudos must be thrown EMU's way. Hard to believe their record is not much better. In an amazing transformation from what they presented earlier in the season, EMU demonstrated terrific skill --- in the circle, in the field behind their pitcher and at the plate. Nothing to be ashamed of in Ypsi!

Steve

Thu, May 3, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.

Excellent photos! I've GOT to get to one of these games.

semperveritas

Thu, May 3, 2012 : 5:51 p.m.

steve----it really is a great afternoon/evening of sport. this isn't hutch's best team by a longshot, but the game is played at a high level. spectators are close to the action and the kids play hard. you won't be disappointed. the purdue weekend may very well settle the bigten championship. after that we can hope for an ncaa regional tournament.

Engineer

Thu, May 3, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.

The "group of Wolverine fans" picture you show were a group of awesome fans. They cheered loud and creatively and made the game very enjoyable. I wish they were at every game. You guys made my night; and of course Sara's homer helped! GO BLUE!!!!

Mesee

Wed, May 2, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.

Corrections: Participants must 21 and over for the Softball Academy. Go Pink!

Meral

Wed, May 2, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.

Those wolverines are awesome... Good Luck softballers in coming up next two weeks. Also there is a Softball Academy on May 10 at Alumni field. This is to raise funds for American Cancer Society for breast cancer awareness. Anyone at over the age of 18, man or woman,can sign up. It is so much fun and a good cause. Check it out at mgoblue.com

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