Wolverines Earn Second Straight Walk-Off to Secure Series Sweep of Iowa

Sunday, April 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

29-14, 10-3

Iowa

16-18, 4-8

Iowa

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Earn Second Straight Walk-Off to Secure Series Sweep of Iowa

4/14/2024 4:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan rallied from a late deficit and used a walk-off single in the seventh to beat Iowa 6-5 and earn a weekend sweep.
» Ava Costales posted the game-winning single and went 2-for-4 with four RBI with a home run; Tholl also homered as part of a 2-for-2 effort.
» Hannah George earned her second win of the weekend in relief, earning the final two Iowa outs in the top of the seventh; Lauren Derkowski fanned three and allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks through 6.1 innings.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team earned its second straight walk-off win, rallying to defeat Iowa 6-5 and earn a weekend series sweep Sunday afternoon (April 14) at the Wilpon Complex, home at Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. It was the Wolverines' third Big Ten Conference sweep this season.

Freshman designated player Ava Costales recorded a pair of go-ahead hits as part of a 2-for-4, four-RBI effort, including a bloop single to shallow left for a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh.

Michigan nearly had a walk-off homer when senior first baseman Keke Tholl's towering foul down the left-field line curved around the foul pole and looked to come down in fair territory. It was reviewed and upheld, and Tholl instead reached on a swinging bunt single -- her second hit of the game. Sophomore pinch runner Janelle Ilacqua avoided a tag on the basepath to reach third base on a fielder's choice and scored on Costales' game-winning single.

Michigan struck first for the first time this weekend. After giving up six first-inning runs in yesterday's doubleheader, junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski set down the Hawkeyes in order and her teammates followed with a run in the home half of the first. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler worked back from an 0-2 count to rope a leadoff double to the wall in right-center, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored when sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson bounced an RBI single through the left side.

The Hawkeyes used a fielder's choice to tie the game in the fourth and another to go ahead in the top of the sixth. Iowa plated two in the latter, beating out a pair of infield singles before scoring on a fielder's choice to second base. Langford made the tag on the basepath but could not get the throw to first in time to turn two. Back-to-back hit-by-pitches pushed a Hawkeye runner to third, and she scored on an infield single deep to the six hole to give Iowa a 3-1 lead.

Tholl and Costales homered to push the Wolverines ahead in the home half of the sixth. Tholl led off with a solo homer just over the wall in right-center for her team-best 12th home run of the season and second of the weekend series. Vallimont and Conway singled in consecutive at-bats to put two aboard for Costales, who blasted a three-run shot to left field -- her third homer of the weekend and fifth this season.

Iowa used a two-run homer of its own to again knot up the game at five with one out in the top of the seventh. Graduate student RHP Hannah George entered with one runner on, and Iowa reached second safely on a fielder's choice before George set down the next two to keep the score tied and set up the walk-off in the bottom half.

George (2-1) earned her second win of the weekend in relief with no hits and no walks allowed through the final 0.2 innings. Derkowski pitched the lion's share, striking out three while allowing five runs on seven hits -- predominantly infield singles -- and two walks through 6.1 innings.

The Wolverines (29-14, 10-3 Big Ten) will host the second half of their annual home-and-home series with in-state rival Michigan State on Tuesday (April 16) at 6 p.m. at Hutchins Stadium. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.