Heading into the season, the expectations for Michigan’s offense seemed to entirely rely on its overwhelming veteran presence.
But early on in the new campaign, Wolverines coach Bonnie Tholl is showing little aversion to trusting newcomers. Michigan’s freshman class already has made a combined 13 starts on the young season. Two players have stood out particularly: infielder Kiley Carr and designated player Siena Snyder.
At the Wolverines’ most recent invitational in Tempe, both freshmen proved to be impactful when called upon. Michigan found itself in a series of closely contested affairs at the Sun Devil Classic, with three of its four wins being decided by two or less runs. When the Wolverines needed it, the freshmen managed to get timely plate appearances down the order.
Although Carr made only one appearance in the most recent stretch, it was one of the most impactful of the series. Starting in the third game against Southern Utah, she went two-for-four while scoring in the fourth and ninth innings. It was those runs that were the point of difference in a Michigan 5-3 victory.
Carr has also managed to carve out a role for herself through her defensive ability. In six starts, she’s played multiple positions in the outfield rotating between second and third base. It’s that versatility that has established her place in this team.
“I can’t say enough about Carr’s wherewithal understanding how to play both sides of the infield,” Tholl said Tuesday.
The maturity of Carr to be a contributor on both sides of the field is a big part of why she is the joint-leader in starts among freshmen. If she can continue to build on offensive performances like against Southern Utah, it only incentivizes Tholl to utilize her more.
Meanwhile, Tempe proved to be the biggest stretch of games in Snyder’s young career. The freshman made four of her six starts this season at the Sun Devil Invitational, primarily appearing in a designated hitter role. Tasked with a big role offensively, Snyder rewarded Tholl’s trust.
Although Snyder reached base nine times in her five appearances over the weekend, just two of them were hits. Snyder has thrived offensively through her plate discipline, drawing ten walks this season. Her maturity in the box has allowed her to constantly extend innings with her eyes.
“[Michigan assistant coach Amanda Chidester] and I have worked a lot,” Snyder said when asked about that discipline. “She’s taught me a lot about looking at different parts of the ball and that’s been really helpful for me.”
Snyder’s ability to work the count has allowed her to become an important part of the lineup. Of players with at least 20 plate appearances, she ranks first in on-base percentage and third in on-base plus slugging. It’s those kind of performances that earned her a bigger role throughout the weekend.
“Sienna really understands that this game takes a whole team,” Tholl said. “I think that has allowed her to grow at a faster pace than most freshmen I see.”
Her understanding of the game really shines with her at bat approach. Snyder’s biggest strength this year has been her patience and unselfishness in the box. Although she hasn’t stuffed the scoresheet in terms of hits and RBIs, she is constantly setting her teammates up with a runner on base.
The maturity of both of these newcomers allowed them to stand out in an established lineup. And the more these performances continue, the more difficult it will become for Tholl to keep them out of the starting core.
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