Early Miscues Costly in U-M Loss at No. 8 Duke in Spring Break Opener

Thursday, February 27

Durham, N.C.

2:00 PM

Michigan

8-6

Duke

14-3

Michigan

Duke

Lauren Derkowski (Michigan Photography)

Early Miscues Costly in U-M Loss at No. 8 Duke in Spring Break Opener

2/27/2025 5:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan fell 2-1 to No. 8 Duke in its spring break opener.
» Duke scored its runs after a pair of 1-3 throwing errors in the third inning; Lauren Derkowski allowed just two hits and no walks.
» U-M led with a 4-3 edge in hits, scoring on a Lilly Vallimont two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth.

DURHAM, N.C. -- The University of Michigan softball team dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 8 Duke on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 27) at Duke Softball Stadium. U-M led in most categories, including a 4-3 edge in hits, but the Blue Devils took advantage of miscues to plate their two runs in the third inning.

Senior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (3-3) took the loss despite a stellar outing in the circle, allowing two runs -- both unearned -- on two hits and no walks allowed with four strikeouts.

She contributed one of the errors in the bottom of the third. After a leadoff hit-by-pitch, Duke reached on back-to-back throwing errors off bunts, the latter going wide of first base to allow the game's first run to cross. The Blue Devils (14-3) added another on a 4-3 groundout in the next at-bat when senior infielder Ella McVey made a diving stop to keep the ball on the infield.

Michigan (8-6) got one back in the next half-inning. Sophomore outfielder Jenissa Conway bounced a one-out single through the right side, advanced on a passed ball, then scored from second when junior/sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont just barely beat out a two-out infield single to short.

Both teams stranded a runner at third base in the fifth inning. Junior infielder Indiana Langford used a leadoff single and throwing error to reach second base and advanced on a groundout, but Michigan struck out and grounded out to end its last best chance of the game.

Vallimont and freshman first baseman Lauren Putz made good contact in the seventh, but Duke's center fielder came up with consecutive leaping catches on balls headed over her head to send them back to the dugout before a groundout to third ended the contact.

The loss was the Wolverines' second to a top-10 team this season.

Michigan will play a five-game set at The Raleigh Times from Friday through Sunday (Feb. 28-March 2), opening action Friday (Feb. 28) against Queens at 1 p.m. and host North Carolina State at 6 p.m. at the Wolfpack's Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.