Michigan Takes First Home Loss Against Illinois in Series Opener

Friday, April 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

Michigan

17-15, 3-4

Illinois

23-15, 2-6

Illinois

Michigan

Melina Livingston (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Takes First Home Loss Against Illinois in Series Opener

4/7/2023 8:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan dropped a 4-0 decision in the weekend-series opener against Illinois -- its first home loss of the season.
» Melina Livingston posted two hits; the Wolverines also drew three walks and stranded six on base.
» Lauren Derkowski threw a complete game, allowing three runs off five hits and three walks; she struck out seven.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team dropped its first home game of the season, falling to Illinois 3-0 on Friday afternoon (April 7) in the series opener at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

Illinois (23-15, 2-6 Big Ten) used a walk and a pair of singles to opposite sides of the field to get on the board early in the first and cushioned it with a two-run homer to left field in the third to put up three runs over the first three innings.

The Wolverines struggled to get their offense going, tallying four total hits with three walks. Michigan's greatest threat came in the bottom of the third when sophomore outfielder Ellie Sieler stole second and graduate-student outfielder Ellie Mataya drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs, but a groundout stranded both runners. The Wolverines totaled six runners left on base in the game.

Graduate-student first baseman Melina Livingston led U-M, going 2-for-3 with two hard-hit ground balls through the infield. Sophomore shortstop Ella McVey's single in the seventh applied pressure on the Illini with a runner in scoring position, but another groundout closed out the game.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski (11-7) took the loss from the circle, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks through seven innings. She struck out seven Illinois batters.

Michigan (17-15, 3-4 Big Ten) will resume the Illinois series at 2 p.m. on Saturday (April 8) at Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. The game will be streamed live on B1G+, and tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.