Michigan softball loses, needs two wins Saturday to make regional final

Michigan pitcher Gabby Ellis allowed six hits and one run in loss to Kansas on Friday.

The Michigan softball team came up short in an extra-inning pitchers duel in its first NCAA Tournament game in the Oklahoma regional.

Michigan lost 1-0 to Kansas in the bottom of the eighth on Friday at Oklahoma’s Love Field. Now, the Wolverines (34-21) will have to win two games on Saturday to stay alive and have a shot at Sunday’s regional final.

Oklahoma, a softball powerhouse and the Tournament’s No. 3 overall seed, run ruled Binghamton 11-0 in the first regional game. The Sooners will face Kansas in the first game on Saturday. Michigan will face Binghamton on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., and the winner will advance to play the loser of Oklahoma-Kansas at 8 p.m.

It was a disappointing tournament out for Michigan, which had defeated Kansas on Feb. 8 in the season opening USF invitational. In that meeting, the Wolverines scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win, 4-2.

Michigan pitcher Gabby Ellis in 7.1 innings gave up six hits and one run, while Kansas pitcher Lila Partridge went eight innings and also gave up six hits. In the bottom of the eighth with no outs, Hailey Cripe led things off for the Jayhawks drawing a walk. A double to left center advanced her to third, and with the bases loaded, Ava Wallace singled to left center scoring Cripe for the game winner.

Lauren Putz, a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the Wolverines, was 2-for-4, but their third and fourth batters combined to go 0-for-8. Michigan left seven runners on base.

achengelis@detroitnews.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan softball loses, needs two wins to make regional final