Michigan
23-14, 3-8
Northwestern
17-16, 5-5
Wolverines Flex Offense in Road Win at Northwestern
4/5/2026 12:33:00 AM | Softball
» Michigan scored five in the second and three in the sixth to earn a 9-5 win against Northwestern and even the weekend series.
» Lauren Putz tallied four hits and four RBI as U-M posted 15 hits from eight players, including a three-run triple in the second inning.
» Haley Ferguson earned the win in relief, while Erin Hoehn closed out the game with three scoreless innings for her first save of the season.
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Sophomore rightfielder Lauren Putz posted four hits and four RBI, and the University of Michigan softball team used big innings early and late to secure a 9-5 win against Northwestern on Saturday night (April 4) at the Ballpark at Rosemont. The Wolverines, who evened the weekend series with the win, recorded 15 hits from eight different players.
After threatening in the first, Michigan broke through with five runs on five hits and a walk in the second inning. U-M opened the frame with three consecutive hits, including senior third baseman Maddie Erickson's two-run double to the left-centerfield gap. Michigan loaded the bases after a Northwestern pitching change, and Putz cleared them with two outs, lifting a three-run triple deep over the rightfielder's head. It was her first three-bagger of the season.
Northwestern scored two in the home half of the second and three in the third to even the score. The Wildcats loaded the bases with no outs in the second before scoring on a walk and a fielder's choice, then added a two-run homer in the third and tied the game with an RBI single to leftfield.
Michigan retook the lead in the top of the fourth. Senior second baseman Janelle Ilacqua led off with a double that dropped between three Wildcats fielders in shallow left-center, advanced on a groundout and scored when Putz sent a high-chop single over the pitcher's head and beat the throw to first.
The Wolverines added insurance with a three-run sixth inning. Junior centerfielder Jenissa Conway crushed a one-out solo homer deep over the rightfield stands, her 10th of the season, and Michigan capped the scoring with an RBI double from junior RHP Erin Hoehn, who later scored on a fielder's choice and throwing error.
Sophomore RHP Haley Ferguson (3-1) earned the win in relief after entering with the bases loaded and one out in the third. She allowed no runs on one hit and two walks over 1.2 innings. Hoehn closed out the contest, allowing just two hits with no walks over the final three innings to earn her first save of the season.
Michigan (23-14, 3-8 Big Ten) will close out the weekend series against Northwestern (17-17, 5-6 Big Ten) with a 2 p.m. rubber game Sunday (April 5) at the Ballpark at Rosemont. The game will air on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ferguson, Haley (3-1)
L: Blea, Emma (1-4)
S: Hoehn, Erin (1)
Batting:
2B: Putz, Lauren 1 ; Hoehn, Erin 1 ; Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 1
3B: Putz, Lauren 1
HR: Conway, Jenissa 1
RBI: Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Putz, Lauren 4 ; Hoehn, Erin 1 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Erickson, Maddie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Langford, Indiana 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Putz, Lauren 1 ; Hoehn, Erin 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 1 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 2
HBP: Erickson, Maddie 1
PO: Thorington, Cece 1
Batting:
HR: Robinson, Kansas 1
RBI: Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Renschen, Kate 2 ; Medina, Tru 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1
SB: Renschen, Kate 1
HBP: Renschen, Kate 1
