The Michigan softball team’s matchup with Ohio State on Friday resembled a 10-round fight, with the teams trading blows as their opponent gave them a window to do so.
And the Wolverines (38-14 overall, 18-3 Big Ten) eventually came out on top in the back-and-forth, high-scoring battle, beating their rival Buckeyes (29-19, 10-11), 9-6.
“This is such a big rivalry,” junior right-hander Lauren Derkowski said. “It’s always exciting. It’s always a challenge.”
In the first inning, Derkowski let Ohio State land the first punch. After cleanly fielding a bunt and appearing as if she’d record the game’s first out, she sailed her throw to first baseman Keke Tholl into right field. Capitalizing on her miscue, the Buckeyes jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with two of their runs unearned.
But in the second inning, the roles were reversed, as Ohio State’s miscues gave Michigan an opportunity to strike back. Freshman right fielder Ella Stephenson and freshman center fielder Jenissa Conway led off the inning with back-to-back walks, as the Buckeyes’ erratic pitching forced them up against the ropes.
And the Wolverines capitalized on the free bases conceded by Ohio State. Freshman designated player Ava Costales and junior shortstop Ella McVey shrunk Michigan’s deficit to one with back-to-back RBIs that brought Stephenson and Sieler home.
“We keep it positive, keep it exciting, and just stay on that fence,” Derkowski said. “You know that every single person can get the job done.”
After the Wolverines fired back in the second, Ohio State responded with another blow of their own in the third, once again taking advantage of Derkowski’s inability to find the strike zone. After Derkowski retired her first two batters in the third, she issued a five-pitch walk to her next batter. From there, Michigan’s defense did her no favors.
Derkowski drew a ground ball to shortstop, and it seemed as if her walk wouldn’t do any additional damage. But the grounder deflected off the glove of junior shortstop Ella McVey into left field. And the Wolverines’ miscues compounded, as Erickson airmailed her throw to second base, allowing the Ohio State runner to score from third to expand its lead to 4-2.
“We’ve had some defensive miscues off and on throughout the season,” Michigan assistant coach Jennifer Brundage said. “Every experience we have, we’re going to learn from it.”
The Wolverines struck back in the third, as Erickson blasted an RBI double to get things started. Then, like Michigan just before, the Buckeyes’ defense faltered. Right fielder Taylor Heckman aggressively charged a loopy line drive off the bat of senior first baseman Keke Tholl, sliding to attempt to make the catch. But the ball got past her, allowing Erickson to score from second. While the ball was well-hit, it was the misplay from Ohio State’s right fielder that let Tholl put the Wolverines in the lead.
Throughout the game, Michigan and the Buckeyes went back-and-forth, trading blows as their opponent let up their guard. In the fifth inning, however, a blast off the bat of Ohio State catcher Sam Hackenbracht took the lead back from the Wolverines, putting them down 6-5 and up against the ropes.
“We just build confidence from each at-bat to the next,” Brundage said. “When their teammates are getting on and we’re starting rallies, the next player comes up confident she can get it done as well.”
But as they did all night, Michigan fired back. Coming up to bat with runners on first and second, Erickson once again came through for the Wolverines, lining a double to center field to clear the bases and regain the lead. Then, Ella Stephenson issued the knockout punch. She blasted a two-run shot to center-field, putting Michigan up 9-5 and leaving the Buckeyes unable to respond.
Both teams kept fighting throughout the night, taking advantage of their opponent’s miscues to stay in the fight. But like they have throughout their fourteen-game win streak, the Wolverines’ offense came through in the clutch, striking back when they needed it most. And that sealed the deal for Michigan.