Michigan softball knocked out of NCAA tournament by 5-seed Oklahoma State, 4-1

Michigan softball's season came to an end against an ace who found her best stuff.

The Wolverines fell to Oklahoma State, 4-1, in the final game of the Stillwater regional on Sunday. Oklahoma State pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl retired 17 straight batters and cruised to a complete game win after giving up a run to U-M in the first inning. Michigan gave up a solo and two-run home run to go down 4-1 and a rally couldn't be mustered against Kilfoyl, who started all three regional games for OSU.

Michigan had four singles leading to a run in the first inning, but did not have another runner reach base until there was one out in the bottom the seventh inning on a Jenissa Conway double. Kilfoyl retired the last two batters to finish the complete game. She threw six scoreless innings to close out the game, striking out eight Wolverines with no walks on 100 pitches.

The Wolverines went 2-2 in the regional after finishing with a 41-16 record in the regular season and winning the Big Ten tournament under second-year head coach Bonnie Tholl. Michigan returned to the tournament for the school's 30th appearance all-time after missing the field in 2023. Oklahoma State advanced to its fifth straight Super Regional with the win.

The Cowgirls, who were the road team in the first game today in case two games were needed, struck first with a run on two hits in the top of the first. Michigan left fielder Ellie Sieler had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a groundout before scoring on a Keke Tholl single. The Wolverines loaded the bases with two more singles, but the inning ended at 1-1 on a groundout.

OSU regained the lead on a solo home run from Lexi McDonald in the top of the second with two outs. Michigan, however, couldn't get to Kilfoyl again. Michigan didn't record a hit in the next five innings against OSU's ace. Karli Godwin extended OSU's lead to 4-1 with a two-run home run off starter Lauren Derkowski in the top of the fifth inning.

Derkowski threw a complete game with 116 pitches in seven innings. Michigan's top starter gave up four runs on seven hits, two hit batters and one walk and recorded four strikeouts. Derkowski threw two complete games and had another six-inning start in the four-game tournament run.

Michigan dropped the opening game of the regional to Kentucky but rallied to beat Northern Colorado and then avenge the loss to the Wildcats on Saturday. Michigan had to beat Oklahoma State twice to take down the host in the double-elimination regional.