Wolverines Drop Clearwater Finale to No. 16 Duke

Sunday, February 19

Clearwater, Fla.

9:00 AM

Michigan

6-4

Duke

7-3

Duke

Michigan

Keke Tholl (Michigan Photography)

2/19/2023 11:43:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan fell to No. 16 Duke, 6-3, in its final game of the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational.
» U-M posted 10 hits as Keke Tholl went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and RBI double; Tholl tallied four homers over the weekend to match her 2022 season total.
» Jessica LeBeau took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits and four strikeouts through four innings.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan softball team twice responded but not enough in a 6-3 loss to No. 16 Duke in its final game of the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational on Sunday morning (Feb. 19) at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

Michigan posted 10 hits -- its second double-digit effort of the season -- as junior designated player Keke Tholl stayed hot from the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with a pair of extra-base hits, including her fourth home run of the weekend to tie her career high, and three RBI. Sophomore outfielder Ellie Sieler and freshman second baseman Janelle Ilacqua also posted two hits, while graduate student outfielder Ellie Mataya tallied a double and two runs.

Both teams used extra-base hits to plate multiple runs in the first inning. Duke struck first with a pair of RBI doubles, both to right center, to plate three, while Michigan got most of it back with Tholl's two-run shot to centerfield. Mataya preceded the homer with a leadoff double down the leftfield line.

Duke extended its lead in the fifth, capitalizing on a three-base throwing error to score one before adding a two-run homer. Michigan again answered in the home half, with Tholl plating Mataya for the second time on a ground-rule double to -- and underneath -- the rightfield fence.

Junior RHP Jessica LeBeau (3-2) took the loss from the circle, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk through four innings. She stuck out four, while sophomore RHP Lauren Derkowski added five strikeouts through three relief innings. Derkowski allowed three on three hits and a walk.

The Wolverines (6-4) will kick off their annual spring break trip with a five-game appearance at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., next weekend. U-M opens the tournament games against Boise State at noon PST and Nevada at 2:30 p.m. PST on Friday (Feb. 24) at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium.