Wolverines' Rally Falls Short in Series Opener Against Michigan State

Friday, March 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

Michigan

25-9, 4-1

Michigan State

10-16, 2-6

Michigan State

Michigan

Jenissa Conway (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines' Rally Falls Short in Series Opener Against Michigan State

3/28/2025 7:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored two in the first inning and rallied with one in the sixth but fell short, 4-3, in the series opener against Michigan State.
» MSU tallied three of its four runs on homers in the fourth and sixth innings.
» Jenissa Conway went 3-for-4 with a run and Ella Stephenson posted two hits and two runs.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team struck first and rallied late but could not overcome a narrow deficit over the final two innings in a 4-3 loss to in-state rival Michigan State on Friday night (March 28) in the series opener at the Wilpon Complex, home of Carol Hutchins Stadium and Alumni Field.

Michigan (25-9) outhit MSU 8-6, but the Spartans benefited from two home runs, in the fourth and sixth innings, to plate three of their four runs in the contest. Sophomore centerfielder Jenissa Conway went 3-for-4 with a run, and sophomore rightfielder Ella Stephenson posted two hits and two runs to lead U-M from the 2-3 spots in the order.

Senior RHP Lauren Derkowski (10-6) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and a walk while striking out eight Michigan State batters.

Michigan faced two MSU pitchers in the first inning and scored a run off both. The Wolverines drove three straight singles up the middle, including an RBI rope from freshman designated player Lauren Putz to score Conway from second base. After a pitching change, U-M drew back-to-back walks on nine pitches to push across another.

The Spartans used a leadoff solo shot to cut their deficit in half in the fourth inning and a two-run homer to take the lead in the sixth. They followed the latter home run with an RBI double to cushion their advantage.

Michigan got a run back in the home half of the sixth. Stephenson led off with a first-pitch double down the leftfield line and scored when junior/sophomore Lilly Vallimont pounded an RBI single through the right side. MSU made another pitching change and recorded three straight outs to halt the Wolverine rally and strand two on base.

Conway laced a low liner up the middle to put the tying run on first with two outs in the seventh, but a groundout to third base -- nearly beat out by Stephenson -- ended the game.

Due to impending weather later in the weekend, the Wolverines will now play a noon doubleheader tomorrow (Saturday, March 29) to close out the series against in-state rival Michigan State. Both games will be streamed on B1G+, and tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.