Michigan
Bethune-Cookman
Wolverines to Kick Off 2026 Campaign at Annual USF Tournament
2/3/2026 3:44:00 PM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team (0-0) will return to the annual USF-Rawlings Tournament this weekend in Tampa, Fla., to kick off its 49th season of intercollegiate play. The Wolverines will open against five non-conference opponents, including Bethune-Cookman (0-0) at 11:30 a.m. and host USF (0-0) at 4:30 p.m. on Opening Day Friday (Feb. 6). U-M continues against Illinois State (0-0) at 10:30 a.m. and No. 6 Florida (0-0) at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 7) before wrapping up with a 9:30 a.m. slate against Kansas on Sunday (Feb. 8). All games will be held at USF Softball Stadium.
Notes
• U-M returns 17 letterwinners from the 2025 squad. Notable among the U-M returnees are junior outfielder Jenissa Conway, a 2025 NFCA second team All-American, as well as three other All-Big Ten honorees in senior second baseman Indiana Langford (first team, 2025) senior third baseman Maddie Erickson (first team, 2024) and junior outfielder Ellie Sieler (second team, 2024). Sophomore utility Lauren Putz was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and D1Softball's Freshman All-America first team.
• Michigan returns its top four hitters from last season and all but two everyday bats. Langford led the team with a .406 batting average, with 52 runs scored and a .487 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot. Putz ranked second on the team with a .392 average, 14 homers and 48 RBI, while Conway led in most other categories, posting a .379 average with 59 runs, 75 hits, 18 homers and 52 RBI.
• Michigan returns four pitchers from its 2025 staff, which combined for a 3.16 earned-run average, 15 shutouts, 309 strikeouts and a .233 opposing average. However, the Wolverines did lose their ace in three-time NFCA All-Region and two-time Big Ten Tournament MVP Lauren Derkowski, who led U-M last season with a 2.75 ERA, 165 strikeouts and .219 average against. Junior right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn was also named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team last season and posted a team-best 18-7 record with a 2.89 ERA and 102 strikeouts.
• U-M welcomed a talented six-member freshman class, with four of the Wolverine newcomers included in the Extra Inning's Class of 2025 national prospect ranking, including two in the top 20. While all could see action this season, infielders Kiley Carr, Lily Palko and Siena Snyder and pitcher Grayson LaMarche are likely to see extended reps.
• The Wolverines also brought in junior RHP Gabby Ellis, who spent her first two collegiate seasons at Mercer, where she led the Bears last season with an 11-5 record and a 2.48 ERA over 113 innings pitched -- a significant improvement from her 5.01 ERA as a freshman (2024). She helped the Bears claim the 2025 SoCon Tournament title and earn the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Gainesville Regional championship.
• Michigan swept its fall schedule, outscoring its opposition 46-8 with wins over Toledo (9-0), Detroit Mercy (6-0), Saginaw Valley State (7-2), Western Michigan (11-3) and Bowling Green (11-3). U-M boasted eight hitters over .400, led by Stephenson, who posted a .545 batting average with six RBI, a .545 slugging percentage and .643 on-base percentage. Conway tallied a .429 batting average with a team-best seven RBI and a .571 slugging percentage. The Wolverines' pitching staff combined for a 0.93 earned-run average with a pair of shutouts and held their opponents to a .197 batting average while allowing just eight walks.
• Stephenson and senior/junior Lilly Vallimont will serve as Michigan's co-captains in 2025-26. It is a first-year honor for both Wolverines.
• Bonnie Tholl is in her fifth season at the helm of the Wolverine program after previously serving 29 years as Carol Hutchins' top assistant coach. She has guided Michigan to a 108-64 record over her four seasons, including a combined 82-39 mark and back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles in 2024 and 2025.
• Michigan added assistant coach Carmyn Greenwood to its staff last summer. An NFCA All-American as an outfielder while at Louisville (2020-22), she spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Western Kentucky. Greenwood will coach first base for the Wolverines.
• The Wolverines' 2026 schedule features 23 total games against 12 opponents that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, including an opening-weekend game against Women's College World Series participant Florida and a notable series at last year's Baton Rouge Regional winner, Nebraska, to kick off Big Ten play.
