Michigan
13-10
Illinois State
6-17
Wolverines Run Rule Illinois State to Close Out NKU Spring Classic
3/11/2024 4:57:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan used three big innings to earn a 13-2, five-inning win against Illinois State in its NKU Spring Classic finale.
» U-M posted a season-high 13 hits; Ellie Sieler and Maddie Erickson tallied three apiece, while Jenissa Conway earned a career-best five RBI.
» RHP Erin Hoehn threw two perfect innings, but Lauren Derkowski earned the win in relief with two strikeouts in the fourth inning.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. -- The University of Michigan softball team closed out its appearance at the NKU Spring Classic with a 13-2, five-inning decision against Illinois State on Monday (March 11) at Northern Kentucky's Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. It was the Wolverines' second win over ISU this season.
Michigan put up three big innings with eight runs over the opening two frames and a second five-spot in the fifth. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler and sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson posted three hits apiece, while freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway registered a career-high five RBI. U-M posted a season-best 13 hits from six different players.
Four different Wolverine pitchers threw innings. Freshman RHP Erin Hoehn started and recorded two perfect innings, fresh off her no-hitter yesterday, but since she didn't reach the minimum innings, senior RHP Lauren Derkowski (5-5) was credited with the win in relief, posting three outs with a pair of strikeouts, in the fourth inning.
The Wolverines capitalized with bases loaded throughout the game. After U-M worked them full with two singles and a walk in the first, Conway roped a two-out, bases-clearing double to the left center gap. She pushed across another as part of Michigan's five-run second inning. The Wolverines scored on a throwing error then again loaded the bases and plated runs in three of the next four at-bats. Erickson posted an RBI single through the left side, sophomore/freshman first baseman Lilly Vallimont drove in one on a fielder's choice and Conway and Hoehn both drew bases-loaded walks.
Illinois State got on the board off a pair of walks and a two-run fielding error in the third, but Michigan got those runs back and more with another five-spot in the fifth to push the game back into run-rule territory. The Wolverines earned runs on RBI singles from senior catcher Ryleigh Carricaburu and Conway, then two on back-to-back errors by the ISU rightfielder and a fielder's choice to wrap up scoring.
The Wolverines (13-10) will wrap up their early-season tournament schedule next weekend when they travel to Louisville, Ky., for a four-game slate at the Cardinal Classic. U-M will face South Dakota at 3:30 p.m. and host Louisville at 6 p.m. on Saturday (March 16) and Dartmouth at 10 a.m. and Illinois at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday (March 17) at Ulmer Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Derkowski, Lauren (5-5)
L: Meshnick, Hannah (3-8)
Batting:
2B: Conway, Jenissa 1
RBI: Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Carricaburu, Ryleigh 1 ; Vallimont, Lilly 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 5 ; Hoehn, Erin 1 ; Fantucci, Avery 1
SH: Langford, Indiana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sieler, Ellie 3 ; Langford, Indiana 1 ; Erickson, Maddie 2 ; Carricaburu, Ryleigh 1 ; Vallimont, Lilly 3 ; Conway, Jenissa 1 ; McVey, Ella 1 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Horton, Abby 1 ; Brown, Payton 1
SB: Horton, Abby 1 ; Brown, Payton 1
