ROSEMONT, Ill.— Like a conventional oven, the Michigan softball team took too long to heat up.
Facing Northwestern (17-16 overall, 5-5 Big Ten), the Wolverines (22-14 overall, 2-8) didn’t need much to take the game, but they couldn’t produce enough offensive power to compete when it was necessary, ultimately surrendering a 4-0 defeat to open the series.
The first few innings passed by in a hurry. The Wolverines couldn’t find first base, chopping groundouts or sending sailing fly outs to waiting mitts. On the flip side, Northwestern found base, but couldn’t follow through for any scores of its own…