Stephenson's Three Extra-Base Hits Power U-M Past Nebraska for Series Sweep

Sunday, April 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

33-14, 14-3

Nebraska

25-19, 8-6

Nebraska

Michigan

Ella Stephenson (Michigan Photography)

Stephenson's Three Extra-Base Hits Power U-M Past Nebraska for Series Sweep

4/21/2024 4:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan earned an 11-3, six-inning win to secure the weekend series sweep against Nebraska; it was U-M's fifth Big Ten sweep of the season.
» Ella Stephenson posted two triples and the game-winning home run as part of a 3-for-4, five-RBI effort.
» Lauren Derkowski earned the win, striking out two while allowing three runs -- one earned -- on six hits and two walks.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team earned its fifth Big Ten Conference series sweep of the season in decisive fashion, rolling to an 11-3, six-inning win against Nebraska on Sunday afternoon (April 21) in front of 1,986 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

Freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson moved up to fifth spot in the Wolverine order and responded with a 3-for-4, five-RBI effort with two triples and the game-ending two-run homer in the sixth. She became the first Wolverine player to record two triples in a game since Traci Conrad against Texas A&M on Feb. 27, 1998.

Sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson posted two hits and three RBI, while junior outfielder Ellie Sieler and sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford combined for three hits and three walks to lead off three innings with a pair of baserunners.

Sieler and Langford kicked off the Wolverines' big middle innings -- a five-run third and four-run fourth -- and Erickson followed with RBI hits both times, roping an RBI single to center in the former and a two-run double to left-center in the latter.

Stephenson drove a two-run triple hard off the wall in center field in the third inning before Michigan manufactured two more runs on a fielding error and a passed ball. She laced her second triple into the left-center gap, glancing it off the diving Husker's glove, in the fourth and scored on a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat. The triples were the first of Stephenson's collegiate career.

Nebraska scored two runs after a leadoff double and a throwing error in the top of the fourth and added another on a pair of singles in the sixth.

With U-M needing two runs to end the game early, Stephenson delivered with a one-out, two-run shot to left field for her second long ball of the season.

Junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (13-7) went the distance for the Wolverines, allowing three runs -- just one earned -- on six hits and two walks while striking out two Nebraska batters.

Michigan (32-14, 13-3 Big Ten) will head to Rochester, Mich., on Tuesday (April 23) for a newly added midweek slate against Oakland. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at the Golden Grizzlies' Oakland Softball Field.