Wolverines Overwhelm Hoosiers in Five Innings to Earn Series Sweep

Sunday, March 31

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 PM

Michigan

24-11, 0

Indiana

23-12, 0

Michigan

Indiana

Lilly Vallimont (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Overwhelm Hoosiers in Five Innings to Earn Series Sweep

3/31/2024 3:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored runs in four straight innings to earn a 10-1, five-inning win and series sweep at Indiana.
» Lilly Vallimont went 2-for-2 with three runs and three RBI; she and Jenissa Conway both homered.
» RHP Lauren Derkowski allowed one run on four hits and two walks and struck out three through four innings pitched.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan softball team used an unrelenting offense, plating runs across four consecutive innings, to earn a 10-1, five-inning win and complete the series sweep at Indiana on Sunday afternoon (March 31) at the Hoosiers' Andy Mohr Field. It was the Wolverines' second straight Big Ten Conference series sweep and pushed U-M's win streak to 10 in a row.

Like the previous two series games, Michigan built its lead gradually over multiple innings. U-M totaled 12 hits from six different players, including four with multiple hits. Sophomore/freshman catcher Lilly Vallimont went 2-for-2 with two walks, three runs and three RBI; her three-run homer pushed the Wolverines into run-rule territory in the fifth inning. Freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway also homered in the fourth.

After leaving the bases loaded in the first frame, the Wolverines broke through in the second, using a walk and a bunt single before sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford chopped a two-out RBI single over the Hoosier third baseman's head -- her second infield single in as many at-bats.

Indiana scored its lone run to tie the game in the bottom of the second, stringing together a double and an RBI single to second. The Hoosiers added a walk and a bunt single to load the bases with one out, but junior RHP Lauren Derkowski used a strikeout and a 6-4 fielder's choice to strand three. Indiana put just three more runners on base for the rest of the game.

The Wolverines took advantage of a couple unusual plays and benefitted from video replay in both the third and fifth innings. Vallimont roped a double down the left field line -- after a similar hit was called foul earlier in the at-bat -- and successfully dodged freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson's two-run single up the middle to come around and score. The play was reviewed and upheld. Junior shortstop Ella McVey added another run two batters later with a looped RBI single to shallow left field.

Conway hit her two-run homer with one out in the fourth -- a no-doubt shot to right center to tie the team lead with eight on the season. Vallimont also scored on the home run, then hit one of her own in the fifth, a three-run blast to leftfield for her fourth of the season. Michigan preceded the Vallimont homer with a run on sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson's roped single to right, then won another review when Erickson was called out at second base on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on an overthrow. She scored as part of Vallimont's home runs.

Derkowski (11-5) allowed one run on four hits and two walks and struck out three Hoosiers through four innings. Senior RHP Jessica LeBeau entered to record the final three outs in the fifth, earning a strikeout and a pair of 6-3 groundouts.

The Wolverines (24-11) will return to the road next week, taking on Notre Dame at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (April 3) at Melissa Cook Softball Stadium in South Bend, Ind., before heading to Evanston, Ill., for a three-game weekend series at Northwestern, starting at 4 p.m. CT on Friday (April 5) at Sharon Drysdale Field.