Wolverines Drop First-Round Heartbreaker to PSU at Big Ten Tournament

Wednesday, May 10

Champaign, Ill.

1:30 PM CT

Michigan

26-25

Penn State

31-15

Michigan

Penn State

Lauren Derkowski (Andy Wenstrand/Big Ten Conference)

Wolverines Drop First-Round Heartbreaker to PSU at Big Ten Tournament

5/10/2023 6:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan fell to Penn State 3-2 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on a seventh-inning walk and subsequent throwing error.
» U-M out-hit the Nittany Lions 7-5; Indiana Langford tallied three hits, while Ellie Mataya posted two hits and an RBI.
» Lauren Derkowski struck out six and allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and two walks.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Michigan softball team dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to Penn State in walk-off fashion in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday afternoon (May 10) at Illinois' Eichelberger Field.

Michigan (26-25) twice led in the contest, scoring runs in the second and fifth innings, but Penn State kept pace each time to send the game into the seventh even at 2. The Nittany Lions (31-15) led off the inning with a walk and scored the winning run from first base on a fielder's choice and errant throw into the right-center field gap.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (18-14) was strong from the circle, striking out six while allowing three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and a pair of walks.

On the other side of the duel, Michigan chased PSU ace and fellow All-Big Ten honoree Bailey Parshall from the circle in the fifth and out-hit the Nittany Lions 7-5 in the contest. Freshman second baseman Indiana Langford posted a career-best three hits, while graduate-student outfielder Ellie Mataya tallied two hits and an RBI.

Mataya scored the first run of the game in the second inning after Michigan used a successful video replay to wipe out the third out and make the run count. She led off the inning with a single, advanced on error and came home on a 4-6 fielder's choice. Junior third baseman Ryleigh Carricaburu was initially called out at first for the second half of a double play, but video showed her safe and earned her an RBI.

Penn State evened the score with a solo homer to left in the fourth, but Michigan quickly retook its lead in its next turn at the plate. The Wolverines put two on with two outs to force a PSU pitching change. The next pitch hit graduate student first baseman Melina Livingston to load the bases, and Mataya punched an RBI single into shallow center to push across the go-ahead run.

The Wolverines made a handful of strong defensive plays throughout game, including a diving catch from sophomore outfielder Ellie Sieler in left to set PSU down in order in the bottom of the fifth. But the Nittany Lions plated the tying run again in the sixth on back-to-back leadoff hits and a sac fly.

Michigan will require an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sunday (May 14) on ESPN2.