Michigan Opens Big Ten Slate With Shutout of Purdue

Saturday, March 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

18-11, 1-0

Purdue

12-15, 0-1

Purdue

Michigan

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

3/23/2024 5:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan got its first Big Ten win of the season, a 7-0 shutout win over Purdue.
» Ellie Sieler recorded her first two home runs of the season in the contest, scoring in back-to-back plate appearances.
» Lauren Derkowski allowed just three hits in a complete-game performance.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team (18-11, 1-0 Big Ten) got its Big Ten slate started on Saturday (Mar. 23) taking down Purdue 7-0 at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

Ellie Sieler led the Wolverines' scoring attack after going 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs, the first of the season for the junior left fielder. Keke Tholl added a home run of her own in the bottom of the sixth, while five other Wolverines recorded an RBI to round out the scoring. Starting pitcher Lauren Derkowski earned her eighth victory of the season inn the circle, posting eight strikeouts in a six-plus inning performance.

The Maize and Blue needed just three pitches to get on the scoreboard, as Sieler led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot to right-center field to give U-M a 1-0 lead.

Derkowski escaped a two-walk jam in the top of the third with a strikeout, keeping things at a 1-0.

Michigan took advantage of their half of the third with a pair of runs -- one coming on Sieler's second solo homer in as many at-bats, and the second being driven in by a Lilly Vallimont double -- to boost their lead to three headed into the fourth inning.

The Boilermakers came close to finding its first run of the game in the top of the fifth, but Derkowski again notched an inning-ending strikeout to keep Purdue 60 feet away from breaking the shutout. The Wolverines took advantage of the momentum in the next half inning, with Ava Costales and Ella McVey batting in a pair of runs and a bases-full hit-by-pitch of Avery Fantucci pushing their advantage to 6-0.

In the top of the sixth inning, Purdue again looked poised end the shutout, loading the bases with no outs, but Derkowski kept the Boilermakers off the board once again by striking out the next three batters. Tholl's solo home run brought Michigan to a 7-0 lead.

After the Boilermakers put two on base with no outs in the top of the seventh, the Maize and Blue brought Erin Hoehn to the circle to close out the contest. She needed fewer than 10 pitches to preserve the shutout, recording a strikeout and a pair of three-pitch groundouts to secure the Maize and Blue victory.

The Wolverines continue their series against Purdue on Sunday (March 24), hosting the Boilermakers in game two of their three-game set. First pitch from Carol Hutchins Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.