Wolverines Beat Dartmouth, Illinois to Close Cardinal Classic

Sunday, March 17

Louisville, Ky.

10:00 AM

Michigan

15-11

Dartmouth

3-7

Dartmouth

Michigan

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Beat Dartmouth, Illinois to Close Cardinal Classic

3/17/2024 3:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah

» Michigan took advantage of fast starts to defeat Dartmouth, 4-2, and Illinois, 4-1, on the second and final day of the Cardinal Classic.
» Lauren Derkowski earned a win and a save, totaling 14 strikeouts, including 10 against Dartmouth, and allowing two runs on five hits over 9.2 innings.
» Maddie Erickson went 3-for-3 against Dartmouth with a solo homer; Ellie Sieler and Jenissa Conway both posted leadoff triples against the Illini.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Michigan softball team closed out its appearance at the Cardinal Classic -- and its early-season tournament slate -- with a pair of wins, defeating Dartmouth, 4-2, and Illinois, 4-1, on Sunday (March 17) at Louisville's Ulmer Stadium.

Senior RHP Lauren Derkowski (6-5) earned the win in the day's first game and a save in the second, totaling 14 strikeouts while allowing two runs on five hits over 9.2 innings pitched.

She entered in the fifth inning of the latter game with bases loaded and one out after Illinois had walked in run to cut the Wolverine lead to 3-1. She earned a big swinging strikeout before a fielder's choice to third ended the threat. She retired the next six Illini batters, posting a pair of strikeouts in the seventh, to close out the game.

Michigan took advantage of leadoff triples to score a run apiece in the first and second innings against the Fighting Illini. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler drilled the second pitch of the game to the base of the wall in right centerfield and scored just another pitch later on a bunt single from sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford.

Freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway, a day removed from a two-homer effort against host Louisville, followed suit with a leadoff triple high off the centerfield wall and scored when freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson lifted a sac fly into center in the next at-bat.

U-M capitalized on another leadoff hit to plate a run in the fifth when junior shortstop Ella McVey opened the inning with a single, advanced on a sac bunt and scored when freshman Ava Costales drove a pinch-hit RBI single past the Illini shortstop's glove and up the middle.

Illinois got on the board with its bases-loaded walk in the fifth, but Michigan got the run back two innings later when senior first baseman/catcher Keke Tholl looped a two-out single into right to plate Langford from second base.

Freshman RHP Erin Hoehn (8-3) posted a solid performance over the opening 4.1 innings en route to the win, allowing one run on three hits and three walks -- two of which came in the fifth inning -- with one strikeout.

Michigan also jumped out to an early lead against Dartmouth with a two-run second, highlighted by RBI doubles from Conway and Hoehn -- both off the centerfield wall. Conway earned four hits and drove in five runs over the four-game weekend.

Dartmouth used free passes and a double steal to get on the board in the third, but the Wolverines responded with a run in the home half of the inning to reestablish its two-run lead. Michigan loaded the bases with two outs and capitalized on a dropped third strike that got away from the Big Green catcher and allowed freshman pinch runner Lexi Dellamonica to score from third -- on her 19th birthday.

Maddie Erickson, who went 3-for-3 to pace the Wolverine offense, led off the third with a line-drive solo homer that clanged off a flagpole beyond left centerfield for her fourth long ball of the season.

The Big Green posted three hits in the top of the seventh to plate one more run on a two-out RBI double. Derkowski ended the game with a flyout in the next at-bat. She a posted a season-best 10 strikeouts against Dartmouth and allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and a walk.

The Wolverines (16-11), after six weekends on the road, will kick off their home slate on Wednesday (March 20), hosting Oakland at 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.