Michigan upsets No. 16 Florida's nearly perfect weekend

Michigan upset No. 16 Florida’s nearly perfect weekend in California, on a rainy Saturday morning at Anderson Family Field. The Wolverines snapped the Gators’ 11-game winning streak and head back to Ann Arbor with a Top 25 win.

Michigan jumped out to an early lead collecting four runs on four hits off Florida’s starter Ava Brown. The bats stayed hot all game long as the offense ended the day with a total of 10 hits. Entering the game, the offense had scored just one run in four games at the Judi Garman Classic.

Keke Tholl delivered in the bottom of the first with an RBI double to left center followed by a Lilly Vallimont single through the left side. Tholl ended up scoring on a Jenissa Conway fielder’s choice to second that drew an errant throw at first. With runners on the corners, Michigan sent Conway. Florida’s backstop Jocelyn Erikson threw her out but the damage was already done as Vallinont scored to take the 4-0 lead.

Scouting note: Erikson threw out all three runners who attempted to swipe a bag. Yes, a lefthanded catcher is rare, but the Oklahoma transfer has a quick release behind the dish and pinpoint accuracy. 

The ball seemed to fall Michigan’s way all morning long, and they strung some solid swings together. Swings that had been absent most of the weekend.

“After a week of rough outings and poor results, my message to the team was…today is an opportunity to be the best version of Michigan Softball and it wasn’t about the final score,” said head coach Bonnie Tholl. “It was about fully engaging mentally 100% of the game and collectively we made that decision and that’s who we were on the field today. That decision is what is required to respect the game and the jersey we wear everyday.”

The bats continued to heat up in the bottom of the third inning. Capitalizing on a leadoff walk and a bloop single to left field, Michigan knocked Brown out of the game. Olivia Miller entered in relief to face Vallimont who delivered yet again with a bases loaded RBI single up the middle on a 3-2 count.

.@umichsoftball puts up a six-spot in the third. The Wolverine bats are supercharged ⚡️ five singles and a double.

Here’s the Lilly Vallimont single up the middle for the first run of the inning.

UM leads UF, 10-0 pic.twitter.com/EXeBCHrVuG

— Tara Henry (@notarabledays) March 2, 2024

Starting pitcher Erin Hoehn helped herself out with a bases clearing double to left center to extend the lead to 9-0. Ellie Sieler tacked on an important run with an infield single that pulled Avery Goelz off the bag. Aggressive base running scored pinch runner Lexi Dellamonica to put the Wolverines up 10-0.

The Gators didn’t go quietly in the top of the fifth and nearly extended the game. Korbe Otis drew a one out walk on eight pitches. Otis took second on a wild pitch and with just with just one swing left, Reagan Walsh singled. Bailey Goddard followed with a single of her own to shortstop to prompt a pitching change. Lauren Derkowski entered for Hoehn and ultimately shut down the threat with a strikeout.

About 10 minutes after the game the sky opened up. Michigan helped the grounds crew get the tarp on the field before heading to the airport.

It started raining right after the game ended & @umichsoftball put the tarp on the field because TEAMWORK 🫶 pic.twitter.com/hidd6TnUS1

— Tara Henry (@notarabledays) March 2, 2024