Wolverines Offense Silenced in Losses to Louisville, FAU at Joan Joyce Classic

Saturday, February 17

Boca Raton, Fla.

11:15 AM

Michigan

6-2

Louisville

10-1

Michigan

Louisville

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Offense Silenced in Losses to Louisville, FAU at Joan Joyce Classic

2/17/2024 7:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan dropped a pair of shutout losses, falling to Louisville 2-0 and host FAU 1-0 at the Joan Joyce Classic.
» U-M tallied just eight hits on the day; Keke Tholl posted three hits, while Maddie Erickson recorded two against Louisville.
» Lauren Derkowski struck out eight but lost the pitchers' duel against FAU; the Owls broke through with a two-out run in the sixth inning.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The University of Michigan softball team struggled to get its offense going in a pair of losses on the second day of action at the Joan Joyce Classic on Saturday (Feb. 17), falling to Louisville 2-0 and host FAU 1-0 at the Owls' Joan Joyce Field. The Wolverines combined for just eight hits and left 13 stranded on the day.

Louisville (10-1) took advantage of U-M miscues to plate its runs in the first and fifth innings. The Cardinals reached on a pair of free passes, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, in the former frame before eventually scoring the game-winning run on a passed ball. The fifth-inning tally was a result of a wild pitch with two outs after three consecutive Louisville singles.

The Wolverines (6-3) posted just three hits against Louisville, including two from sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson, and put runners in scoring position in the second and seventh innings. The latter produced U-M's best scoring opportunity when Erickson led off with a single to left field and sophomore/freshman first baseman Lilly Vallimont drew a one-out walk, but a fielder's choice got the lead runner for the second out and a flyout ended the threat.

Michigan dropped a pitchers' duel in the second game after the Owls (7-3) broke through with a two-out RBI single to center field in the sixth inning.

The Wolverines put a runner on base in five of seven innings, including two in scoring position with one out in the top of the sixth when senior catcher Keke Tholl reached on a leadoff single through the left side and freshman Jenissa Conway beat out an infield chopper to second. But they were stranded by a foulout and popout, and Michigan was retired in order in its last turn in the seventh.

Tholl led Michigan with three hits on the day, including a pair of singles in the nightcap against FAU.

Senior right-handed pitcher Jessica LeBeau (1-2) took the loss against Louisville, allowing the two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts. Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski (3-1) was solid despite defeat in game two against FAU, fanning eight while giving up just one run on six hits and one walk.

The Wolverines will wrap up play at the Joan Joyce Classic with a 9 a.m. slate against Hall on Sunday (Feb. 18) at Joan Joyce Field. The game will be streamed live on FloSoftball.