Wolverines Beat Penn State in Extras to Secure Road Series Sweep

Sunday, April 28

State College, Pa.

1:00 PM

Michigan

37-14, 16-3

Penn State

33-15, 11-9

Michigan

Penn State

Jenissa Conway (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Beat Penn State in Extras to Secure Road Series Sweep

4/28/2024 3:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 3-2 win at Penn State and wrap up its weekend series sweep -- the Wolverines' fifth in Big Ten play.
» Lilly Vallimont delivered the game-winning hit with a single to left to plate Jenissa Conway from second base; Keke Tholl led U-M with two hits and two RBI.
» Lauren Derkowski struck out a season-high 12 batters and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The University of Michigan softball team used a clutch two-out hit and aggressive baserunning to earn a 3-2 win in nine innings at Penn State on Sunday afternoon (April 28) at Nittany Lion Softball Park. With the win, the Wolverines secured their fifth Big Ten Conference sweep and pushed their win streak to 13 games.

Junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (15-7) came out on top of another pitchers' duel, striking out a season-high 12 Nittany Lion batters while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks through nine innings.

Penn State RHP Bridget Nemeth also went the distance, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts for her part of the duel.

Sophomore/freshman catcher Lilly Vallimont delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the ninth inning. Freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway started the ninth-inning rally with two outs, drawing a walk and stealing second to put herself in scoring position. Vallimont roped single into left field, and Conway rounded third and slid headfirst into a home, underneath the tag to score the go-ahead run.

With the Wolverines lead restored, Derkowski retired the final three PSU batters on eight pitches, forcing two flyouts before a game-ending popout to second base.

Senior first baseman Keke Tholl drove in the Wolverines' other two runs with two hits and two RBI. Michigan took the first lead on its first hit of the contest in the fourth inning, scalding a first-pitch single past a diving PSU shortstop to plate sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford from second base.

Penn State answered in the home half of the inning, drawing a leadoff walk to spoil Derkowski's streak of nine straight retired, advancing on a steal and a wild pitch and scoring on an RBI double to left -- like Michigan, its first hit of the game.

U-M retook the lead in the sixth on a two-out solo home run from Tholl to left-center field for her team-best 14th long ball of the season, but Penn State again evened up the score with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. PSU posted two singles to put runners on the corners with two outs then drove a single into center field for the tying run. Derkowski used a swinging strikeout to strand the winning run on third and force extra innings.

Michigan (37-14, 17-3 Big Ten) will close out the regular season with a three-game home set against rival Ohio State next weekend at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. The series kicks off with the Wolverines' annual Pink Game at 6 p.m. on Friday (May 3). Tickets for all three games are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.