Costales' Ninth-Inning Homer Propels Wolverines to Walk-Off Win over Nebraska

Friday, April 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

31-14, 12-3

Nebraska

25-17, 8-4

Nebraska

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Costales' Ninth-Inning Homer Propels Wolverines to Walk-Off Win over Nebraska

4/19/2024 11:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan earned a 4-3 walk-off win in the ninth inning of the series opener against Nebraska; it was U-M's third walk-off win in four games.
» Ava Costales belted a one-out solo homer to left center for the game-winning hit in the ninth.
» RHP Lauren Derkowski fanned eight batters and allowed three runs on just four hits and four walks through eight innings, while RHP Hannah George earned the win in relief.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman designated player Ava Costales knocked out a ninth-inning solo home run to send the University of Michigan softball team past Nebraska, 4-3, in the series opener Friday night (April 19) in front of 1,354 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

It was the Wolverines' fifth walk-off win of the season and their third in four games, while Costales has delivered the game-winning hit in two of the last three games. She connected with a 1-0 pitch with one out in the ninth and drove a no-doubter deep to left center field. It was her sixth homer of the season.

Michigan struck first but twice had to rally to even the score. U-M outhit the Cornhuskers, 9-5, but left 15 runners stranded, including bases loaded in the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

The Wolverines plated an unearned run in the first inning. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler led off with a looped double down the left field line, advanced on a passed ball and scored on a 6-3 groundout from sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson, who posted two hits and two RBI in the contest.

Nebraska took advantage of free bases to steal the lead in the fourth inning, reaching on a leadoff walk and hit-by-pitch before scoring both runners on a two-out, two-run double to left center.

Michigan responded with a bases-loaded walk in the home half of the frame to even the score. Sophomore/freshman catcher Lilly Vallimont and freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway led off with back-to-back singles, Costales walked the bases loaded and Sieler worked a seven-pitch walk to plate the equalizer.

The Huskers retook the lead with a leadoff homer to left in the top of the eighth inning, but Michigan answered again with the tying run in the bottom half. Sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford reached on a two-out bunt single and scored when Erickson looped a single into right center and the Nebraska rightfielder could not come up with a diving catch.

Graduate student RHP Hannah George (3-1) earned the win in relief after entering in the ninth inning, but junior RHP Lauren Derkowski pitched the lion's share of the game, allowing three runs on just four hits and four walks while earning eight strikeouts through eight innings pitched.

The Wolverines (31-14, 12-3 Big Ten) will resume its Nebraska series at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, April 20) at Hutchins Stadium. Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.