Michigan
24-17, 10-6
Northwestern
29-10, 14-2
Tholl Homers Twice, Boasts Six RBI in Run-Rule Win Over No. 21 Northwestern
4/22/2023 5:51:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan scored 12 runs in the third inning en route to a 15-0 five-inning rout of No. 21 Northwestern to even the weekend series.
» Keke Tholl registered two homers in a 3-for-3, six-RBI effort, while Indiana Langford posted her first collegiate homer and three RBI; Lexie Blair also tallied three RBI.
» Lauren Derkowski tossed a one-hit shutout, striking out six while allowing two walks; she lost the no-hit bid on a leadoff double in the fifth.
• Watch: Carol Hutchins Stadium Dedication
ANN ARBOR, Mich.-- The University of Michigan softball team collected season highs in every offensive category en route to a 15-0 five-inning decision over No. 21 Northwestern to even the weekend series on Saturday afternoon (April 22) in front of 1,852 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at the newly-minted Carol Hutchins Stadium.
It was the runs U-M has scored in a game since a 24-3 five-inning win against Toledo in 2019, while the Wolverines' 12-run third was the most in one inning since they plated 13 in the second frame of the same Toledo game.
Junior catcher Keke Tholl belted out two homers in her first two plate appearances as part of a 3-for-3, six-RBI performance, while freshman Indiana Langford registered her first collegiate home run; she and graduate-student outfielder Lexie Blair both tallied three RBI.
On the other end, sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (17-7) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and ultimately finished a one-hit shutout, allowing four total baserunners on a fifth-inning double, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out six.
Tholl opened scoring with a leadoff solo shot to right field in the second inning, lifting a high fly into the air and letting the wind push it just beyond the wall.
The Wolverines (24-17, 10-6 Big Ten) broke it wide open in the third, scoring 12 runs on 10 hits, including a stretch of eight in a row, as well as three walks and a hit-by-pitch while batting through the order twice. Michigan plated runs in three consecutive at-bats, including Tholl's three-run bomb deep to center field, which upped her season total to nine long balls. Another Michigan single induced a Northwestern pitching change, and two pitches later, Langford sent another one deep -- for two runs -- over the right-center field wall.
Northwestern (29-10, 14-2 Big Ten) earned the second out on a popout with the bases loaded, but the Wolverines promptly resumed the rally. Blair looped an RBI single to left field before U-M scored runs on three straight free passes despite another the inning's second pitching change.
Michigan pushed the game further out of reach with two more runs in the fourth, again loading the bases to score on a Blair sacrifice fly and Tholl RBI single up the middle. Tholl's six RBI were the most for a Wolverine since 2019 -- also in the 24-3 Toledo contest.
The Wildcats' best scoring opportunity came in the first inning when they used a walk and hit-by-pitch to put two on with two outs. Derkowski retired seven in a row until allowing a two-out walk in the fourth. After Northwestern led off the fifth with a double to center, the Wolverine ace responded with back-to-back swinging strikeouts before a flyout to right ended the game.
Michigan will wrap up its Northwestern series on Sunday (April 23) at noon at Alumni Field. The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network, and tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Derkowski, Lauren (17-7)
L: Henry, Cami (10-2)
Batting:
2B: Robinson, Kansas 1
Base Running:
HBP: Cady, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: LeClair, Audrey 1
HR: Tholl, Keke 2 ; Langford, Indiana 1
RBI: Blair, Lexie 3 ; Mataya, Ellie 1 ; Tholl, Keke 6 ; Livingston, Melina 1 ; Langford, Indiana 3 ; McVey, Ella 1
SH: Sieler, Ellie 1 ; McVey, Ella 1
SF: Blair, Lexie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blair, Lexie 2 ; Mataya, Ellie 2 ; Tholl, Keke 2 ; Livingston, Melina 1 ; Langford, Indiana 1 ; Ramey, Madi 1 ; LeClair, Audrey 3 ; McVey, Ella 3
SB: Blair, Lexie 1
HBP: Livingston, Melina 1
