Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Michigan softball team wrapped up a successful weekend at home with an 8-4 victory over Rutgers on Monday afternoon (April 14), securing a clean sweep of the three-game series at the Wilpon Complex’s Carol Hutchins Stadium. The win also marked a major milestone for head coach Bonnie Tholl, who tallied her 100th career coaching victory.
The Wolverines came out swinging, scoring three runs in both the first and second innings to grab early control. Senior outfielder Ellie Sieler got things going in the first with a clutch two-out double off the centerfield wall that drove in two runs.
Michigan’s offense stayed hot in the second, with junior Indiana Langford and sophomore Ella Stephenson each collecting a pair of hits across the first two frames. Stephenson delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing, three-RBI double down the left-field line. Langford led the team at the plate with three hits in total.
In the circle, senior Lauren Derkowski (12-9) turned in a strong start. She allowed just two hits through the first four innings and finished with six strikeouts over 4.2 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits and two walks.
Sophomore Erin Hoehn came in for relief with two outs in the fifth and stranded two Rutgers runners. She went on to pitch the final 2.1 innings, earning the save while allowing two hits and a pair of walks.
Rutgers made a push in the fifth, getting on the board with a solo home run. They tacked on two more runs with a shallow double after loading the bases, but the Wolverines quickly countered in the bottom half.
Ella McVey provided the highlight of the day with a two-run inside-the-park home run. After a leadoff single, McVey lofted a soft liner into shallow left. A misplay by the Rutgers outfielder gave her the opportunity to circle the bases. It marked her first collegiate home run and Michigan’s first inside-the-parker since Langford did it against Toledo on March 27, 2024.
Rutgers added one more run in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single, but Hoehn closed the door with a groundout to seal the win.
With the victory, Michigan improves to 31-12 overall and 9-4 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines now head to Columbus for a three-game weekend showdown against rival Ohio State, beginning Friday (April 18) at 6 p.m., followed by games on Saturday (April 19) at 2 p.m. and Sunday (April 20) at 1 p.m. All games will be broadcast on B1G+.
Key Highlights:
- Ella McVey knocked in two runs and notched her first career home run with an inside-the-park round-tripper.
- Lauren Derkowski picked up the win, striking out six and giving up three runs in 4.2 innings.
