Wolverines Rally to Down UCF in NCAA Regional Opener

Friday, May 16

Austin, Texas

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

39-19

UCF

33-22-1

Michigan

UCF

(Michigan Photography)

5/16/2025 6:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Highlights vs. UCF Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored three runs in the sixth inning to rally past UCF 4-3 in its NCAA Regional opener.
» Lauren Putz drove in the game-winning runs on a two-run homer; Ella Stephenson also homered in the second inning.
» Lauren Derkowksi started and threw a three-pitch strikeout after entering with two on and two out in the seventh for the save; Erin Hoehn earned the win with four hits and two walks allowed over 2.2 relief innings.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Michigan softball team used a three-run sixth, highlighted by a two-run homer off the bat of freshman designated player Lauren Putz, to rally past UCF 4-3 in its NCAA Regional opener on Friday (May 16) at Texas' Red and Charline McCombs Field.

Michigan (39-19) will next face No. 6-seeded host Texas in the winner's bracket game tomorrow (Saturday, May 17). The game is slated for a noon CT start and will air live on ESPN.

Michigan scored three of its four runs on a pair of home runs, first tying the game with sophomore right fielder Ella Stephenson's in the second inning before Putz's go-ahead shot in the sixth. Stephenson and Putz recorded two hits apiece, accounting for four of the Wolverines' six hits.

The Wolverines again used both of their starting pitchers to great effect. Senior right-hander Lauren Derkowski, who started and pitched the bulk of the innings, re-entered with two UCF runners on and two outs in the bottom of the seventh and struck out the final Knight batter on three pitches to earn her sixth save of the season.

Derkowski finished with three runs allowed on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 4.1 innings pitched. Sophomore RHP Erin Hoehn (18-6) earned the win in relief, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks through 2.2 innings.

UCF manufactured a run in the first inning to take the early lead, reaching on a leadoff double off the left-field wall, advancing on a groundout and scoring on a sacrifice fly that sophomore center fielder Jenissa Conway did a nice job tracking down in left-center.

Stephenson evened the score almost immediately with a leadoff solo homer in the top of the second, fouling off several and working the count full before blasting one deep to left field for her ninth long ball of the season.

The score remained tied until the fifth, when UCF retook the lead with two runs on three hits and two walks. The Knights opened with back-to-back singles to bring in Hoehn with no outs and, after a sac bunt moved the runners, drew back-to-back walks to push across the go-ahead run. UCF added another on a single up the middle, but Conway threw out a second runner at the plate to end the inning and minimize the damage.

Junior first baseman Madi Ramey flared a leadoff single to shallow right and advanced on a second bunt to key the sixth-inning rally. She scored with two outs when Conway ripped an RBI double off the center-field wall to cut the deficit to one, and Putz put Michigan ahead in the next at-bat, connecting with the 3-2 pitch and bombing it deep to center field. It was her 14th homer of the season.

The Knights threatened with a pair of one-out singles to either side of junior shortstop Avery Fantucci, and it was Fantucci who subsequently turned two to get Michigan out of the inning. She collected a ground ball, stepped on second base and just beat the runner at first.

Hoehn bookended a UCF single with a pair of outs in the seventh, but after a hit-by-pitch put another runner on base, Derkowski returned and promptly ended the game just three pitches later.