Hoehn's Two-Way Day, Vallimont Grand Slam Highlight Win in Purdue Series Opener

Friday, March 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

20-12, 1-6

Purdue

24-9, 4-3

Purdue

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Hoehn's Two-Way Day, Vallimont Grand Slam Highlight Win in Purdue Series Opener

3/27/2026 7:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan plated three runs in the third and six in the fifth to earn a 9-1, five-inning decision in the series opener against Purdue at Hutchins Stadium.
» Erin Hoehn went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored, and held Purdue to one unearned run on four hits and two walks while fanning two to earn the win from the circle.
» U-M earned homers from Jenissa Conway and Lilly Vallimont in the fifth; Vallimont ended the game with a line-drive grand slam to right field.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team used a big fifth inning to end its opener against Purdue in a hurry, plating six runs on two homers, including a game-ending grand slam from redshirt junior catcher Lilly Vallimont, to earn a 9-1 win on Friday afternoon (March 27) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Hutchins Stadium and Alumni Field. It was the Wolverines' first conference win of the season.

Junior right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn (4-3) led the Wolverines on both sides of the ball, going 3-for-3 with the go-ahead two-run homer in the third while holding the Boilermakers to one unearned run on four hits and two walks, with four strikeouts from the circle.

Purdue (24-9, 4-3 Big Ten) took the initial lead with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the third inning -- after failing to capitalize on the same scenario in the first. The Boilermakers drove a hard-hit fly ball to right-center field, but junior center fielder Jenissa Conway ran it down in the gap to minimize it to just a sac fly. Hoehn fanned the next Purdue batter to get out of the inning.

The Wolverines (20-12, 1-6 Big Ten) answered quickly in the home half of the third. Sophomore right fielder Lauren Putz used a lined double over the right fielder's head to plate senior second baseman Indiana Langford from first base for the tying run. Hoehn knocked out her home run -- a line-drive shot to center field -- just two pitches later and after a brief interruption from a Purdue pitch-clock violation. It was her fourth long ball of the season.

Michigan went down in order in the fourth but broke it open -- and ended it -- in the fifth. Senior designated player Janelle Ilacqua reached on a leadoff bunt single that refused to roll foul down the first-base line and scored when Conway blasted a two-run homer to right field for her ninth of the season and third in as many games. U-M reached on a walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases for Vallimont, and the Wolverine catcher crushed a first-pitch, no-doubt, line-drive grand slam into the fencing just above the right-field wall. It was Michigan's second slam of the season and Vallimont's fourth home run.

The Wolverines will resume their Purdue weekend series at 2 p.m. on Saturday (March 28) at Hutchins Stadium. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office, and the game will also be streamed live on B1G+.