Wolverines Strike Early to Secure Home-and-Home Series Sweep of MSU

Tuesday, April 16

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

30-14, 11-3

Michigan State

15-26, 2-12

Michigan State

Michigan

Erin Hoehn (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Strike Early to Secure Home-and-Home Series Sweep of MSU

4/16/2024 10:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored five runs in the first inning to defeat in-state rival Michigan State 5-1 and claim the home-and-home series sweep.
» U-M earned consecutive RBI hits from three rookies -- Lilly Vallimont, Jenissa Conway and Elle Stephenson; Stephenson went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
» Erin Hoehn allowed one run on just three hits and three walks with five strikeouts through 6.1 innings; Lauren Derkowski posted the final two outs for the save.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team struck early, scoring five runs in the first inning, to secure a 5-1 decision over in-state rival Michigan State and claim the home-and-home series sweep on Tuesday night (April 16) in front of 1,752 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn (14-4) threw a strong game from the circle, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while fanning five Spartan batters. Junior RHP Lauren Derkowski entered with two on and one down in the seventh and posted the final two outs, including a game-ending punchout on the 3-2 pitch, to earn her third save of the season.

Michigan plated all its runs in the first inning, striking quickly with five runs on five hits and posting runs in four consecutive at-bats after loading the bases with no outs. Three Michigan rookies tallied RBI hits in consecutive at-bats, as sophomore/freshman catcher Lilly Vallimont looped a single into shallow left, freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway sailed a double down the left-field line and to the wall, and freshman outfielder Ella Stephenson roped a two-run single into center field.

MSU scored its lone run on its first hit of the game -- a solo homer with two outs in the top of the third. Stephenson nearly robbed it on the warning track, but it popped out of her glove and bounced over when she hit the wall.

The Wolverine outfield accounted for seven putouts and posted several solid defensive plays, including a diving Conway catch in shallow center field in the fifth inning.

The Wolverines (29-14, 10-3 Big Ten) will host Nebraska for a three-game series this weekend at Hutchins Stadium. The teams will square off at 7 p.m. on Friday (April 19), 2 p.m. on Saturday (April 20) and 1 p.m. on Sunday (April 21). Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.