Michigan softball senior Lexie Blair made a late-game hitting adjustment, and that was all that was needed.
Blair's two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning helped Michigan defeat South Dakota State, 2-1, in the NCAA Regionals on Friday at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando. The 24th-ranked Wolverines (37-16) will play the winner between No. 16-seed/host UCF and Villanova in the winner’s bracket Saturday at 11 a.m. in the double-elimination tournament.
The Orlando Regional winner will move on to a Super Regional against the winner of the Oklahoma Regional.
Annabelle Widra reached first after being hit by a pitch to lead off Michigan’s fifth inning, Ella McVey had a bunt single, and Kristina Burkhardt singled to load the bases.