Home Runs Key Wolverines' Comeback Win over Longwood

Saturday, March 18

Lexington, Ky.

12:00 PM

Michigan

13-10

Longwood

10-10

Longwood

Michigan

Maddie Erickson (Michigan Photography)

3/18/2023 2:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan posted homers in the second and fourth innings to earn a 2-1 comeback win over Longwood in its first game of the John Cropp Classic.
» Maddie Erickson and Ellie Sieler both posted leadoff solo homers; it was the first of Erickson's career and the second -- and first of the season -- for Sieler.
» Lauren Derkowski fanned eight batters and allowed one run on five hits and two walks.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The University of Michigan softball team used a pair of solo homers to rally from an initial deficit and beat Longwood 2-1 in its opening game of the John Cropp Classic on Saturday (March 18) at Kentucky's John Cropp Stadium.

All three runs scored in the game were leadoff home runs, and Longwood (10-10) took the first lead in the second inning with a shot to left field, halting sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski's streak of consecutive innings without an earned run allowed at 26.

Michigan (13-18) answered quickly with freshman designated player Maddie Erickson belting out her first collegiate homer deep to left field in the home half of the second, and sophomore outfielder Ellie Sieler led off the fourth with a shot to right-center -- her first home run of the season and second of her career -- for the winning run.

The Wolverines were not without additional scoring opportunities as six different players tallied a hit, but Michigan left two runners stranded in three separate innings and seven total in the contest.

Longwood threatened in the top of the seventh, using back-to-back singles -- the latter off a sacrifice bunt attempt -- to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base, but Derkowski struck out each of the next three batters she faced to close out the game.

Derkowski (8-4) finished with eight total strikeouts and allowed the one run on five this and a pair of walks.

Inclement weather altered the John Cropp Classic schedule for a second time, and Michigan will now wrap up with one game on Sunday (March 19), facing host No. 14 Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. at Cropp Stadium. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network+.