Wolverines Earn Doubleheader Sweep Over Western Kentucky

Saturday, February 11

Leesburg, Fla.

11:00 AM

Michigan

2-1

Western Kentucky

1-2

Western Kentucky

MICHIGAN

Ellie Mataya (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Earn Doubleheader Sweep Over Western Kentucky

2/11/2023 5:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan earned back-to-back 5-2 wins, including a ninth-inning comeback in the second game, to secure a doubleheader sweep of Western Kentucky at THE Spring Games.
» Ellie Mataya and Lexie Blair combined for seven hits and six RBI at the top of the order.
» RHP Lauren Derkowski earned both wins from the circle, totaling 10 strikeouts and allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks through 8.1 innings.

LEESBURG, Fla. -- The University of Michigan softball team took different paths to a 5-2, 5-2 doubleheader sweep against Western Kentucky, leading the first game wire-to-wire before rallying late and winning the second in the ninth inning, at THE Spring Games on Saturday (Feb. 11) at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.

Graduate student outfielders Ellie Mataya and Lexie Blair headlined the Wolverines offense from the top of the order, combining for seven hits, including a triple apiece and six RBI in the twinbill. Graduate student second baseman Melina Livingston also posted an RBI triple to drive in the winning run in the second slate, while sophomore outfielder Ellie Sieler went 3-for-4 with an RBI -- also in the ninth.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (2-1) earned both wins from the circle. She struck out nine, tying her collegiate best, while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks in a complete-game effort in game one. She entered with two outs in the eighth in game two and, after Western Kentucky (1-3) scored the tying run, earned the final four outs with another strikeout.

Junior RHP Jessica LeBeau contributed the majority of the work in the second slate, striking out five while allowing one run -- unearned -- on three hits and a walk over 5.2 innings.

The Wolverines trailed the second game from the first inning to the sixth when Mataya and Blair led off the frame with back-to-back hits -- the latter a triple off the left-center field fence to even the score. Michigan took its first lead with a Blair sac fly in the eighth, but WKU answered with a two-out RBI double in the home half.

Michigan (3-1) again took the lead in the ninth on Livingston's leadoff triple to the left-field fence but kept scoring to cushion its lead to three. Senior third baseman Audrey LeClair bounced an RBI single past the diving WKU second baseman to plate Livingston and, after swiping second, came home herself when Sieler sent a single of her own through the right side.

WKU put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom half before Derkowski handled the final two outs herself, snagging a liner back to the circle and fielding a one-hopper to close out the contest.

The Wolverines scored two runs apiece in the first and second innings to take an early 4-0 lead in the day's first slate. Mataya and Blair opened the game with back-to-back doubles -- Blair again earning the RBI on a shot down the right-field line. She came home two batters later on a Livingston sac fly to center.

Mataya doubled up the Michigan lead in her next turn at the plate, sailing a two-run triple deep to the fence in right center. She used an RBI single to add insurance in the sixth and finished the game a home run shy of the cycle.

WKU spoiled the shutout bid with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh, earning a lucky bounce -- and perhaps the second run -- when the ball hit second base and kicked high. Derkowski answered with swinging strikeout, her ninth the game, to close it out.

The Wolverines will wrap their opening weekend at THE Spring Games tournament with a 9 a.m. game against Portland State on Sunday (Feb. 12) at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex. The game will be streamed live on FloSoftball.