Wolverines' Comeback Falls Short at No. 10 Georgia

Thursday, February 13

Athens, Ga.

6:00 PM

Michigan

2-4

Georgia

6-0

Michigan

Georgia

Ella Stephenson (Michigan Photography)

2/13/2025 8:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan rallied with runs in the fourth and sixth innings but could not complete the comeback in a 3-2 loss at No. 10 Georgia in the Red & Black Showcase opener.
» Ella Stephenson and Lilly Vallimont posted two hits apiece, while Vallimont and Maddie Erickson posted the Wolverines' RBI.
» Lauren Derkowski took her first loss of the season, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks; she did not allow a hit after the third inning.

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Michigan softball team scored runs in the fourth and sixth innings but could not overcome an early deficit in a 3-2 loss to No. 10-ranked Georgia in the Red and Black Showcase opener on Thursday evening (Feb. 13) at the Bulldogs' Turner Softball Stadium.

Michigan (2-4) outhit the Bulldogs 7-6 but left seven stranded on base, including three in the fourth and four in scoring position. Sophomore outfielder Ella Stephenson and junior/sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont both went 2-for-3 to lead the Wolverines at the plate, while junior third baseman Maddie Erickson doubled and, like Vallimont, tallied an RBI.

Senior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (2-1) took her first loss of the season after allowing three runs on six hits, four walks and five strikeouts. She got roughed up a bit in the second when the Bulldogs led off with two walks and two singles to break through with a pair of runs. UGA added a one-out solo homer in the next inning but did not score again as Derkowski went the final three frames without giving up a hit.

Michigan got on the board on an overturned double play in the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Jenissa Conway walked, Stephenson singled and with one out, Erickson put the ball in play to the right side of the infield. UGA was credited with a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning, but Michigan immediately challenged the out at first and earned a quick reversal to count the run scored from second base on the play. The Wolverines added two more infield hits to load the bases, but a groundout to short stranded all three.

Stephenson singled to left field to lead off the sixth and advanced to third when Erickson yanked a double down the left-field line just two pitches later. She scored to pull Michigan within one run on a Vallimont looper to the right side that the Georgia second baseman dove for and could not come up with. The next two Wolverines were retired on a flyout and a ground to leave two stranded, including the tying run on second base.

Derkowski set the Bulldogs (6-0) down in order -- for the first time -- in the bottom of the sixth, but Georgia responded in kind in the seventh, retiring the top of the U-M order with a popout and two groundouts to second to end the game.

Michigan will continue action at the Red and White Showcase on Friday (Feb. 14) when it takes on Longwood at 1 p.m. and Western Carolina at 3:30 p.m. at Georgia's Turner Softball Stadium.