Derkowski, Wolverines Claim Pitchers' Duel in Opener at Penn State

Friday, April 26

State College, Pa.

5:00 PM

Michigan

35-14, 14-3

Penn State

33-13, 11-7

Michigan

Penn State

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

Derkowski, Wolverines Claim Pitchers' Duel in Opener at Penn State

4/26/2024 7:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

» Michigan scored runs in the fifth and sixth innings to win a pitchers' duel, 2-0, in the series opener at Penn State.
» RHP Lauren Derkowski threw a three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and retired the final 10 batters she faced.
» Ella McVey used an RBI single to plate the winning run in the fifth inning, while Maddie Erickson added a solo homer in the sixth.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski threw a three-hit shutout as the University of Michigan softball team claimed a pitchers' duel in the series opener at Penn State, 2-0, on Friday evening (April 26) at Nittany Lion Softball Park. The Wolverines extended their win streak to a season-best 11 games.

Derkowski (14-7) fanned nine PSU batters and allowed just three hits and three walks. She got better as the game wore on, retiring the final 10 Nittany Lions she faced with six strikeouts over the stretch. It was her second complete-game shutout of the season.

For her part of the duel, Penn State RHP Bridget Nemeth allowed two runs on three hits and two walks and struck out six Wolverines. Michigan didn't get its first hit until the fourth inning but put five on base over the final four frames.

The Wolverines broke through in the fifth inning. Freshmen outfielder Jenissa Conway and designated player Ava Costales drew walks, and junior shortstop Ella McVey followed with a two-out RBI single, punching it past the PSU shortstop into shallow leftfield to plate Conway from second base.

Sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson added some insurance in the sixth with a moonshot solo home run down the leftfield line and over the foul pole to stay just fair. It was her ninth homer of the season.

Penn State put runners on base in each of the first four innings. PSU reached on a one-out single in the third before the Wolverines turned two on a flyout to the centerfield warning track. Conway made the grab and, with the Nittany Lion runner rounding second base, she hurled it across the field to senior first baseman Keke Tholl, who dove to make the tag and end the inning.

The Nittany Lions' biggest threat came in the fourth inning, loading the bases with a pair of free passes and a two-out single before Derkowski stranded all three with a swinging strikeout on five pitches.

With the two-run cushion in the seventh, Derkowski earned back-to-back strikeouts before freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson ranged over to catch a deep fly on the right centerfield warning track for the final out.

Michigan (35-14, 14-3 Big Ten) will resume its weekend series at Penn State at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, April 27) at Nittany Lion Softball Park.