Derkowski Strikes Out 13, No-Hits Purdue in Series Opener

Friday, April 14

West Lafayette, Ind.

5:00 PM

Michigan

21-25, 0

Purdue

18-23, 0

Michigan

Purdue

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

Derkowski Strikes Out 13, No-Hits Purdue in Series Opener

4/14/2023 8:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan earned a 4-0 win in the series opener at Purdue; it was U-M's fourth straight win in Big Ten play.
» Lauren Derkowski secured her first collegiate no-hitter, facing three above the minimum, and struck out 13 Boilermakers.
» Melina Livingston and Ellie Mataya posted solo homers in the second and sixth innings, respectively.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski struck out 13 en route to her first collegiate no-hitter as the University of Michigan softball team earned a 4-0 win in its series opener at Purdue on Friday evening (April 14) at Bittinger Stadium. It was the Wolverines' fourth straight win.

Derkowski (14-7) faced three batters more than the minimum, allowing baserunners on a fifth-inning walk and throwing error and another Michigan fielding error in the seventh. She struck out 13 -- one shy of her career best -- including seven of the last eight batters she faced. She is the second Wolverine pitcher to earn her first collegiate no-hitter this season; junior RHP Jessica LeBeau tossed a six-inning no-no against Portland State on Feb. 12.

Michigan (21-15, 7-4 Big Ten) capitalized on a pair of deep balls to center field to plate a run apiece in the first and second innings. Graduate-student outfielder Lexie Blair lifted a one-out double over the center fielder's head the former frame, took third when the Boilermaker mishandled it and scored on an unassisted RBI groundout to first. Graduate-student first baseman Melina Livingston led off the second inning with her second homer of the season; the ball hit off the top of the center-field wall and bounced over.

U-M added insurance with two more runs in the sixth. Graduate-student outfielder Ellie Mataya lifted a solo home run over the right-field wall -- her first in Maize and Blue this season -- before the Wolverines loaded the bases with two outs and scored on a wild pitch in the dirt.

Blair and Livingston led the Wolverines with two hits apiece, while Mataya posted a pair of RBI.

Due to rain in the forecast later this weekend, the Wolverines will now play a 2 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow (Saturday, April 15) at Bittinger Stadium and wrap the weekend series a day earlier than originally scheduled. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.