Dearborn Wolverine Audrey Asgarally looked over at her coach. Softball Coach Vince Alessandrini signed for the pinch-running senior to steal second base.
The next batter, junior Jaclyn Clark slammed the ball into the outfield. As soon as Asgarally saw the bat and ball connect — she flew off of second base, rounded third and slid into home. “When Jaclyn hit the ball to the right field, my job was to score no matter what,” Asgarally said.
And with that, the UM-Dearborn softball team — with a score of 2-1 — won their first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament Championship.
“This is the first time in UM-Dearborn’s history that the softball team has made it to Regionals, making it the most memorable softball game of my career,” Asgarally said of the May 9 game. “Having the opportunity to score the winning run that put us through to Regionals is a moment I will always remember as a part of my college career.”
The WHAC tournament championship game versus Aquinas College was intense, and a great way to celebrate a standout season. Pitcher Lanie Ellinger, a senior, said the team worked incredibly hard, demonstrated perseverance and overcame adversity following pandemic-related hiatuses.
“It is such an honor to hold the school’s first WHAC championship title,” Ellinger said. “Our team just loves each other so much and are so committed to one another. But most importantly, we experienced this amazing opportunity together.”
Traveling to Georgia, the team did not advance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament. Their season concluded with a 3-0 loss to the Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies, after a successful 30-13 Dearborn Wolverine season.