Michigan Softball scores 4 runs in 7th to beat Illinois 9-8

After a late comeback win at Illinois on Friday night, #22 Michigan took on Illinois once again in the first B1G series between the two teams since 2014. 

Illinois tied the game in the bottom of the 6th 1-1 but Michigan regained the lead in the top of the 7th inning when Lexie Blair drove in Faith Canfield to give Michigan the 2-1 win. 

Fast forward to Saturday and Michigan would equal their Friday run total in the first inning.

Michigan got out to an early 2-0 lead in the 1st with RBI singles by senior Alex Sobczak and junior Madison Uden.

Tuesday's hero Alex Storako got the start in this one and was not as effective.

A trio of 3rd inning RBI doubles by Illinois gave the Illini a 3-2 lead. Bases loaded caused Hutch to make a pitching change as Storako was pulled for Michigan's 3rd pitcher, Sarah Schaefer. 

Illinois then promptly hit a 2-run double to increase their lead to 5-2 and then made it 6-2 in the 4th with an RBI single. The last time Michigan trailed a game like this against Illinois it ended in a run rule loss in 2014. This one appeared to be headed that way.

But the bats woke up. A 5th inning RBI single by Lexie Blair cut the Illinois lead to 6-3.

Madison Uden's 6th inning home run drew Michigan even closer and then a Natalie Peters RBI single made it a one run game at 6-5 Illinois.

But Illinois responded. Schaefer was pulled for Meghan Beaubien in the bottom of the 6th and she struggled a bit. Illinois pushed their lead to 8-5 on a passed ball and an RBI single.

Illinois got 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th and it was all up to pinch hitter Lou Allan with bases loaded. Lou has been injured most of the season and was the top hitter of last year's stellar recruiting class. She's only had 7 at bats this season.

And she came up big. Lou drove in two runs (later ruled a fielding error) to make it 8-7 Illinois. That turned the lineup over and then Faith Canfield hit an RBI double to score both Natalia Rodriguez and Madison Uden to give Michigan the unbelievable 9-8 lead.

Meghan Beaubien made it interesting in bottom of the 7th as Illinois had a runner in scoring position at one point but the Wolverines held on for the 9-8 comeback win.

Two days, two 7th inning comeback wins. Crazy.

Michigan is now 32-11 (14-1 B1G) and will face Illinois again tomorrow at 3pm in the series finale.