Wolverines Rally to Claim Rubber Match at Nebraska

Sunday, April 2

Lincoln, Neb.

Noon CT

Michigan

17-14, 3-3

Nebraska

25-12, 5-3

Michigan

Nebraska

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

4/2/2023 4:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan rallied from an initial deficit to beat Nebraska 4-2 in the series rubber match.
» U-M scored two runs apiece in the third and fourth innings; Lexie Blair and Ellie Mataya posted two hits each.
» Lauren Derkowski struck out seven and allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Michigan softball team scored two runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to rally from an initial deficit and defeat Nebraska 4-2 in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon (April 2) at Bowlin Stadium.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (11-6) earned her second complete-game victory of the weekend series, striking out seven Cornhuskers batters while allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk.

Nebraska (25-12, 5-3 Big Ten) took the first lead with a leadoff homer in the second, but Michigan (17-14, 3-3 Big Ten) pulled ahead in the next half inning and stayed ahead. Graduate student outfielders Ellie Mataya and Lexie Blair posted two hits apiece at the top of the order, while U-M combined for eight total base knocks.

Mataya and Blair both scored in the third when Blair laced a double -- her second two-bagger of the game and fourth of the weekend -- to the gap in left-center. Upon the Huskers center fielder fielding the ball, she flung it backward as she pulled it from her glove to allow Blair to round third and score.

The Wolverines used some small ball to double up their lead in the fourth, loading the bases before scoring on back-to-back pitches -- first on a wild pitch in the dirt then a fielder's choice to first. Both sophomore outfielder Ellie Sieler and freshman second baseman Janelle Ilacqua slid in just safe on plays at the plate.

Nebraska got a run back on a sacrifice fly in the fifth before Derkowski retired five in a row over the sixth and seventh to close out the game.

Michigan will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to take on in-state rival Michigan State at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (April 5) in the first half of its annual home-and-home series. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.