University of Michigan Athletics

» Michigan earned a 3-0 win — its second straight shutout — to claim the series rubber match at Minnesota.

» Lauren Derkowski faced just one above the minimum, posting five strikeouts and allowing one hit and one walk.

» Lauren Putz drove in all three Michigan runs with a two-run homer in the first and an RBI single in the fifth.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Senior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski tossed a one-hit shutout, facing just one above the minimum, as the University of Michigan softball team closed out the regular season with a 3-0 win in the rubber game at Minnesota on Sunday afternoon (May 4) at the Golden Gophers’ Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

It was the second straight complete game for Derkowski (14-12), who allowed a third-inning single and seventh-inning walk and posted five strikeouts on just 75 total pitches over seven innings.

Freshman designated player Lauren Putz drove in all three Michigan runs, going 2-for-3 with a first-inning home run to provide the Wolverines an early lead for the second straight game. Putz followed sophomore center fielder Jenissa Conway‘s walk with a two-run shot to center field on the next pitch. It was her 13th homer of the season and second in four games.

The Gophers earned their first baserunner with a two-out single in the third, but junior/sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont promptly threw her out attempting to steal second just four pitches later to end the inning and keep Derkowski at the minimum faced. It was the fifth runner thrown out by Vallimont this season.

Derkowski retired the next nine Gopher batters through the sixth inning on just 23 pitches, including five to set down the side in the fourth.

Michigan (34-19, 11-11 Big Ten) loaded the bases with three consecutive infield singles in the fifth, including back-to-back bunts, and Putz delivered with two outs, yanking a single to right field for her third RBI of the game.

Minnesota (20-30, 5-17 Big Ten) put the leadoff batter on base on a seventh-inning walk, but Derkowski came back with a swinging strikeout when back-to-back popouts to junior shortstop Avery Fantucci — first to the pitcher’s circle then to shallow left — to end the game.

The Wolverines will be the No. 8 seed for the Big Ten Tournament this week at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. The Wolverines will open play against Wisconsin in the first round at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday (May 7).