Michigan
Florida
Wolverines Run Rule No. 13 Florida for Bounceback Win in Judi Garman Finale
3/2/2024 3:20:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan scored four runs in the first and six in the third to earn a 10-2 five-inning win against No. 13 Florida in its Judi Garman Classic finale.
» Erin Hoehn earned the win, allowing two runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings; she also posted a three-run double in the third.
» U-M matched its season high with 10 hits, including two apiece from Ellie Sieler, Keke Tholl and Lilly Vallimont; Vallimont went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI.
FULLERTON, Calif. -- The University of Michigan softball team closed out its annual appearance at the Judi Garman Classic with big bounceback win, defeating No. 13 Florida 10-2 in five innings on Saturday morning (March 2) at Anderson Family Field. The win, U-M's second over the Gators this season, snapped a five-game losing streak.
After a couple frustrating days at the plate, the Wolverines busted out in a big way, scoring four runs in the first inning and six in the third to push the game into run-rule territory quickly.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn (5-2) was the star of the game, holding Florida scoreless through four innings and ultimately allowing two runs on seven hits, a walk and two hit batters with a pair of strikeouts. She also delivered offensively, registering a three-run double in the third to help her own cause.
Sophomore/freshman first baseman Lilly Vallimont went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI to lead trio of Wolverines with multiple hits. Sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford also reached in all three plate appearances with a hit and two walks -- both to lead off an inning. In all, seven different players recorded at least one hit and Michigan matched its season high with 10 total hits.
Michigan wasted little time to break through in the first with four hits from the first five batters, including an RBI double from senior catcher Keke Tholl to the left-center gap and an RBI single from Vallimont to left field in consecutive at-bats. Both came around to score, first on a throwing error then a first-and-third double steal attempt.
After a quick 1-2-3 second, the Wolverines went back to work in the third with six runs on six hits, including four in a row after a leadoff walk. U-M loaded the bases with no outs to chase the Gator starting pitcher from the game but kept it rolling after the switch. Vallimont laced an RBI single up the middle and freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway followed with another RBI single to left in the next at-bat.
The Gators got their first out of the third on a lineout before Hoehn cleared the bases with a roped three-run double to the left-center gap. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler added one more with two outs, just beating out an infield single to third, while freshman pinch runner Lexi Dellamonica scored from second base on the play. Sieler and Tholl, like Vallimont, posted two hits apiece in the contest.
Hoehn bent at times from the circle but got out a two-runner jams in the second, third and fourth innings, leaving seven total Gators stranded. Florida spoiled the shutout bid with a two-out infield single then added another runner on a subsequent fielding error. Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski, who entered prior to the error, responded with a three-pitch swinging strikeout to close the game.
The Wolverines (11-9) will next head to Highland Heights, Ky., for the NKU Spring Classic next weekend (March 9-10). U-M will play two games against Bowling Green and singles against host Northern Kentucky and Illinois State.
