Wolverines to Hit Road for Maryland Series

THIS WEEK
Tuesday, April 12 -- vs. Central Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Video | Live Stats
Thursday, April 14 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), 6 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Video | Live Stats
Friday, April 15 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), 6 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, April 16 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), Noon
TV: B1G+ | Live Video | Live Stats

Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan softball team (23-13, 4-5 Big Ten) will wrap up its non-conference schedule with a 4 p.m. home slate against Central Michigan (16-16) on Tuesday (April 12) at Alumni Field inside the Wilpon Complex before heading to College Park, Maryland, for a three-game set against Maryland (21-16, 7-2 Big Ten). The road series kicks off with 6 p.m. games on Thursday (April 14) and Friday (April 15) before concluding at noon on Saturday (April 16) at the Maryland Softball Stadium.

• Graduate student Melina Livingston has headed the Wolverines' offense over the last two series, including a .400 average (4-for-10) against Penn State, where she spent her first three years of college. She boasted the game-winning three-run homer in the opener against PSU and scored both runs, including the game-winner, in U-M's 2-1 decision on Saturday. Livingston also posted two hits and three RBI in the MSU midweek last week, including a two-run homer in the fifth, and registered a .444 batting average (4-for-9) over the Northwestern series with a pair of RBI and four runs scored.

• Fifth-year senior Taylor Bump has also been hot of late, posting five hits -- four for extra bases -- and eight RBI over the last five games. She boasted two doubles in the Northwestern finale and knocked out her second home run of the season to open up the scoring in the fourth inning of U-M's opener against PSU. Bump led the Wolverines with 12 homers last season.

• Freshman Annabelle Widra posted her first collegiate home run in Sunday's Penn State finale, knocking out a solo shot in the third inning. Widra is the 10th different Wolverine player to register a long ball this season.

• Graduate student Kristina Burkhardt ranks second nationally with 16 doubles and third with a 0.46 doubles-per-game average this season and, adding three triples, almost 40 percent of her 49 total hits have gone for extra bases this season. She continues to lead the Wolverines at the plate with a career-best .422 average and boasts 21 RBI. Burkhardt has recorded at least one hit in all but five games this season.

• Senior RHP Alex Storako lists second nationally with 217 total strikeouts and sixth with an 11.9 strikeouts-per-seven-innings average. She owns 11 double-digit strikeout games, including 17 in her last outing against Penn State. Storako also led the nation last season with a 12.9 strikeout average, while the Michigan staff posted the nation's top team mark with a 10.76 strikeout average.

• Freshman RHP Lauren Derkowski, despite a no decision, tossed the bulk of the innings in U-M's Saturday win against Penn State, posting a career-high 5.1 innings pitched after coming in with the bases loaded and one out in the first and needing just five pitches to end the threat. She struck out six total Nittany Lions and allowed one run on three hits and no walks. Derkowski also earned her first collegiate save in the Northwestern finale, entering with two outs and the tying run in scoring position in the sixth and ending the threat with a strikeout before retiring the side in the seventh.

Up Next

Tuesday, April 19 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 6:30 p.m.