Michigan
Indiana
Wolverines Beat Indiana in Six-Inning Slugfest in Series Opener
3/29/2024 9:35:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan scored in five straight innings, including multiple runs in four, to beat Indiana, 15-6 in six innings in the road series opener.
» U-M posted season highs with 15 runs and 15 hits; Keke Tholl, Ellie Sieler and Maddie Erickson all homered and combined for seven hits and nine RBI.
» RHP Lauren Derkowski allowed six runs -- five earned -- on 12 hits and posted five strikeouts for the complete-game win.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan softball team twice rallied from early deficits to claim a 15-6 decision in six innings in a series-opening slugfest at Indiana on Friday night (March 29) at the Hoosiers' Andy Mohr Field. U-M extended its winning streak to eight straight games.
After a scoreless first inning and a solo homer in the second, the Wolverines put up multiple runs in the final four frames to surge away from Indiana. Michigan posted season highs with its 15 runs and 15 hits. Eight different Wolverines registered hits, including six with multiple hits.
Senior first baseman Keke Tholl led Michigan with three hits and two RBI, while junior outfielder Ellie Sieler posted two hits and four RBI. Tholl, Sieler and sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson all homered; U-M has hit multiple home runs in five of its last six games.
Michigan and Indiana traded the lead four times over the opening four frames before U-M posted a three-spot in the top of the fourth and did not let up, adding five runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to secure the run-rule margin.
The Wolverines capitalized on free bases to surge in the fourth. With runners on the corners after two walks, junior shortstop Ella McVey flared an RBI double into left centerfield to again tie the game before U-M added two more on a Sieler sac fly to center and a wild pitch in the dirt.
Michigan loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth after back-to-back singles and a fielding error, then freshman designated player Ava Costales drove a two-run single over the Hoosier right fielder's head and off the fence. Sieler cleared the bases two batters later with a three-run bomb to right -- her third of the season.
Erickson led off the sixth with a solo homer to left -- her seventh this season and U-M's 10th leadoff homer of the year; Tholl also led off the second inning with a homer. Freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway walked, stole second and scored when freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson punched an RBI single through the left side. Stephenson scored herself from second base when Costales followed with an RBI single through the left side of her own in the next at-bat.
Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski (10-5) earned the complete-game win, allowing six runs -- five earned -- on 12 hits. She struck out five, including two apiece in the third and fifth innings to strand Hoosier runners.
The Wolverines (22-11) will resume their weekend series at Indiana with a 2 p.m. slate tomorrow (Saturday, March 30) at Andy Mohr Field.
