Wolverines Split A Pair to Wrap Mizzou Invitational

Saturday, March 15

Columbia, Mo.

9:00 AM CT

Michigan

19-8

Missouri

14-13

Michigan

Mizzou

(Michigan Photography)

3/15/2025 3:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan fell to host Missouri, 7-3, before rebounding with a 5-0 win over South Dakota State to wrap up its Mizzou Invitational appearance.
» Lauren Putz posted three hits against SDSU, while Jenissa Conway homered in the first inning of the Mizzou game.
» Erin Hoehn and Lauren Derkowski combined for the shutout against SDSU, allowing just two hits and two walks.
» Derkowski took the loss against Missouri with five of seven runs allowed coming off home runs.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Michigan softball team wrapped up its early-season tournament slate by splitting its final two games of the Mizzou Invitational on Saturday (March 15), falling to host Missouri, 7-3, before bouncing back with a 5-0 win over South Dakota State at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Michigan scored early against South Dakota State (14-15), plating runs in each of the first three innings before adding a late insurance tally in the seventh.

The Wolverines produced their first two runs with the bases loaded—one on a wild pitch in the first inning and the other on a two-run single to left field from sophomore right fielder Ella Stephenson with two outs in the second.

Freshman designated player Lauren Putz, who matched a season high with three hits, led off the third with a double to right field, advanced on a groundout, and scored when junior third baseman Maddie Erickson roped a single into left. Putz also singled in both the fifth and seventh frames, moving a Wolverine runner to third base in the latter, which led to a run scoring on a groundout in the next at-bat.

Sophomore right-hander Erin Hoehn (11-2) and senior right-hander Lauren Derkowski combined for the shutout—U-M's 10th of the season—allowing just two hits and two walks over seven innings with three strikeouts.

The Wolverines were undone by the long ball in the day's first game against host Missouri (14-13), which scored five of its seven runs on home runs in the second and fifth innings.

Michigan struck first in the top of the first inning with a solo home run from sophomore center fielder Jenissa Conway, who launched a one-out shot deep to left-center field for her fifth homer of the season. However, the Tigers answered quickly, putting two aboard with a hit-by-pitch and single before stealing the lead with a two-out, three-run blast to left-center.

Missouri extended its lead with two more runs in the fourth inning. Derkowski nearly escaped a jam but walked the bases loaded before allowing a two-run single to center—both runs coming on 3-2 pitches.

Michigan got one run back in the fourth on senior left fielder Ellie Sieler's sacrifice fly, but after a pitching change brought in freshman right-hander Kat Meyers, the Tigers tacked on another two-run homer in the fifth—the first runs allowed by Meyers this season.

Derkowski (7-5) took the loss, allowing five runs—three earned—on four hits and a walk while striking out four.

Michigan (20-8) will kick off its Big Ten Conference slate with four games next weekend at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Wolverines will face Maryland at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday (March 20) and Friday (March 21) before taking on Wisconsin at 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday (March 22) and 12:30 p.m. CT on Sunday (March 23). U-M's first and last games of the weekend will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Tickets are still available through USA Softball.