Entering the fourth inning Saturday, the Michigan softball team was on a roll, leading Washington 4-0. The Wolverines were coming off a monster three-run inning, led by junior center fielder Jenissa Conway’s two-RBI home run. From that point on, everything switched.
Michigan entered the top of the fourth with junior right-hander Gabby Ellis in the circle. After two strong innings pitched, Ellis had gotten into trouble in the third, loading the bases with two outs. She was able to escape the jam with a clutch full-count strikeout, but the inning raised the question of how many more innings Ellis had in her.
With Huskies left fielder Ava Carroll leading off the fourth, Ellis nearly gave up a solo home run with Conway being forced back to the warning track to make the catch. After surrendering a hard double with her next batter, coach Bonnie Tholl recognized momentum starting to shift…