Wolverines Rally Twice in Pink Game Victory Over Ohio State

Friday, May 3

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

38-14, 18-3

Ohio State

29-19, 10-11

Ohio State

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Rally Twice in Pink Game Victory Over Ohio State

5/3/2024 10:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan rallied in the third and again in the sixth, plating four runs in the latter, to defeat Ohio State, 9-6, in the series opener and annual Pink Game.
» Maddie Erickson posted three hits and three RBI, while Ella Stephenson tallied two hits and two RBI; both drove in two runs in the go-ahead sixth inning.
» RHP Lauren Derkowski earned the win, allowing six runs -- just two earned -- on eight hits and four walks through six innings; RHP Hannah George recorded the final three outs for her first save.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team rallied twice and used a four-spot in the sixth inning to take its final lead in a 9-6 win over rival Ohio State in its annual Pink Game on Friday night (May 3) in front of 2,131 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

Sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson and freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson combined for five hits and five RBI in the game and drove in two runs apiece in the sixth to surge U-M to a three-run lead with just three outs away.

Trailing 6-5 after a two-run Ohio State homer in the fifth inning, the Wolverines strung together four hits to retake the lead in the next frame. Junior shortstop Ella McVey and sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford reached on singles, and both scored when Erickson roped a two-run double to the centerfield wall -- her third hit and second double of the day. Two batters later, Stephenson knocked out a two-run homer with two outs, driving it deep to left centerfield for her third long ball of the season.

With the lead restored, graduate student RHP Hannah George entered with one Buckeye on base in the seventh and earned the final three outs for her first save as a Wolverine. Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski (16-7) earned the win, striking out four while allowing six runs -- only two earned -- on eight hits and four walks.

Ohio State took advantage of an early Michigan miscue to plate three unearned runs in the first inning. The Buckeyes led off the game with back-to-back bunts -- the first a single and the second reaching on a throwing error. They drove in a run on a sac fly then, with two outs, drove a two-run single through the right side.

Michigan answered in the second after back-to-back walks to lead off the frame, scoring on a sac fly of its own and a McVey bouncer up the middle on the 0-2 pitch to pull U-M within one run.

Ohio State scored one in the top of the third before the Wolverines took their first lead of the contest with three runs in the home half of the inning. Erickson roped an RBI double to the right centerfield gap, scoring Langford from first base, and senior first baseman Keke Tholl followed with another double just six pitches later, looping a double into shallow right that got past the diving Buckeye rightfielder to even the score. Freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before scoring U-M's first go-ahead run off sophomore/freshman catcher Lilly Vallimont's RBI single to right center.

Michigan (38-14, 18-3 Big Ten) will continue its final regular-season series against Ohio State at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 4) at Hutchins Stadium. Limited tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.