Michigan
15-7
North Carolina Central
1-16
Erickson Hammers Three Homers, U-M Run Rules North Carolina Central, UNCG
3/7/2025 5:46:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan defeated North Carolina Central 11-0 in five innings and UNC Greensboro 9-0 in five innings to kick off its four-game set at UNCG.
» Maddie Erickson boasted three homers on the day, going 3-for-5 with eight RBI.
» U-M's pitching staff allowed just one hit per game and combined for 12 strikeouts over nine innings.
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Junior third baseman Maddie Erickson belted three home runs -- her first of the season -- as the University of Michigan softball team cruised to a pair of run-rule wins, blanking North Carolina Central 11-0 and host UNC Greensboro 9-0, both in five innings, on Friday (March 7) at UNCG Softball Stadium.
Erickson went 3-for-5 with eight RBI to headline the day's offensive effort. Michigan posted 17 hits over two games; 10 different Wolverine players tallied at least one base knock.
Four Michigan pitchers saw time in the circle and allowed just two hits and three walks over nine innings. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn (9-2) earned the win against NC Central (1-17), allowing just one hit and no walks with four strikeouts over three innings. She combined for the shutout with senior RHP Emerson Aiken, who also posted four strikeouts and gave up no hits and a walk over the final two innings.
Senior RHP Lauren Derkowski (6-4) also allowed just one hit over four innings against UNCG (16-6), striking out three with a pair of walks. Freshman RHP Kat Meyers added a strikeout in a 1-2-3 final inning.
Michigan made quick work of NCCU in the day's first game, scoring in all four turns at the plate, including five runs in the first inning. Freshman designated player Lauren Putz drove in U-M's first runs on a two-run double to center field -- her 11th extra-base hit already this season -- and two batters later, Erickson belted her first homer of the season with a three-run blast to left-center field.
The Wolverines also took advantage of multiple North Carolina Central errors -- six total in the contest -- to plate their three runs across the second and third frames. Michigan earned its run-rule advantage in the latter inning before tacking on three more in the fourth, using a double and two walks, including a leadoff base-on-balls from freshman pinch hitter Jenna Ouellette in her first collegiate at-bat, to load the bases with one out. Michigan scored runs in each of the next three plate appearances on a walk, fielder's choice and single up the middle.
Michigan also jumped out to an early against the Spartans when junior/sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont laced a two-out RBI single back at the UNCG pitcher's head and into center field to score sophomore center fielder Jenissa Conway from second base.
Putz and Erickson teamed up to break it open in the third, first plating two on a flyball to the warning track in right field and, after a fielding error scored another, pounding a two-run shot deep to left. Putz drew a one-out walk to key a scoring surge in the fifth. Senior left fielder Ellie Sieler singled through the right side, and Erickson scored everybody with a no-doubt, three-run blast to right field to push the game into run-rule territory.
Michigan (16-7) will close out its spring break against North Carolina Central at 10 a.m. and UNC Greensboro at 12:30 p.m. at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro. The latter game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hoehn, Erin (9-2)
L: Davis,J. (1-7)
Batting:
2B: Smith,K. 1
SH: Jackson,S. 1
Batting:
2B: Putz, Lauren 1 ; Dellamonica, Lexi 1
HR: Erickson, Maddie 1
RBI: Ilacqua, Janelle 1 ; Thorington, Cece 1 ; Beemer, Megan 1 ; Putz, Lauren 2 ; Erickson, Maddie 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Langford, Indiana 1 ; Ilacqua, Janelle 1 ; Conway, Jenissa 1 ; Thorington, Cece 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 1 ; Vallimont, Lilly 2 ; Putz, Lauren 1 ; Ouellette, Jenna 1 ; Erickson, Maddie 1 ; Dellamonica, Lexi 1
SB: Thorington, Cece 1 ; Stephenson, Ella 1
