Gearhart Powers Wolverines to Doubleheader Split Against UNOH
Behind a six-RBI performance from Kendyl Gearhart, UM-Dearborn secured a doubleheader split on Sunday, taking game one in convincing fashion before dropping the nightcap at Northwestern Ohio.
LIMA, Ohio -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team split a Sunday doubleheader on the road against the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), powering to an 8-4 win in the opener before falling 7-4 in the nightcap.
Game One: UM-Dearborn 8, UNOH 4
UM-Dearborn used a dominant sixth inning to break open a tight contest and secure the opening game.
After trading runs through the first five innings, the Wolverines erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth. Kendyl Gearhart delivered the decisive blow with her second home run of the game—a grand slam to center field—turning a 4-3 deficit into a 7-4 advantage. Gearhart finished with two home runs and six RBIs, accounting for the majority of the Maize & Blue's offense.
UM-Dearborn first struck in the third inning when Gearhart launched a two-run shot to center, scoring Braylin Grueter. UNOH answered with two runs in the bottom half and continued to trade blows, eventually taking a 4-3 lead on a solo home run in the fifth.
The Wolverines chipped in earlier with an RBI single from LeStat Guthrie in the fourth, but it was the sixth inning that proved decisive. Following Gearhart's grand slam, Ava Craft added an RBI single to cap the scoring.
In the circle, Maegen Boehm was steady across seven innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run while picking up her 11th win of the season. Despite three defensive errors behind her, Boehm limited the damage and kept UNOH off balance throughout.
Offensively, Craft led the way with three hits, while Lindsay Marlewitz added a pair of doubles as part of a 10-hit effort.
Game Two: UNOH 7, UM-Dearborn 4
The nightcap saw UM-Dearborn jump out early, but UNOH responded with timely hitting to salvage the split.
The Wolverines opened the scoring in the first inning as Craft delivered a two-run single to give UM-Dearborn a 2-0 lead. The Maize & Blue extended the advantage to 4-1 through four innings, with RBIs from Katelyn Postuma and Guthrie.
However, UNOH answered in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to tie the game at 4-4. The Racers then took control in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run home run that gave them the lead for good, followed by an insurance run later in the frame.
UM-Dearborn tallied 11 hits in the loss, with Gearhart, Craft, and Postuma each recording multi-hit performances. Guthrie also contributed an RBI double as part of a balanced offensive showing.
In the circle, Brooklynn Jones got the start and allowed three runs over 3.2 innings. Boehm took the loss in relief, surrendering four runs (three earned) over the final 2.1 innings.
