University of Michigan Athletics

» Michigan scored four runs in the third and staved off a late Purdue rally to earn a 4-2 win in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

» Lilly Vallimont knocked out a three-run homer, while Lauren Putz drove in the game’s first run on an RBI single up the middle.

» Lauren Derkowski and Erin Hoehn combined for two runs and six hits allowed with five strikeouts; Derkowski secured the win, while Hoehn earned the save.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Michigan softball team put up four runs in the third inning and held off a late rally en route to a 4-2 win over host Purdue in the Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday night (May 9) at the Boilermakers’ Bittinger Stadium.

Michigan (37-19) will face No. 2 seed UCLA in the tournament finale on Saturday (May 10). The final is slated for a 4 p.m. start at Bittinger Stadium. The reigning Big Ten Tournament champion, U-M advances to the championship game for the fourth time over the last five tournaments.

The Wolverines scored all four of their runs in the third after putting the inning’s first three batters on base. Freshman designated player Lauren Putz broke through, bouncing a single up the middle to score junior second baseman Indiana Langford from second base for the game’s first run. Then junior/sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont sent everyone home two batters later with a no-doubt three-run shot to left field — her fifth home run of the season.

The Boilermakers cut the U-M lead in half with a two-run homer of their own in the fourth right after an error at first base gave Purdue just its second runner of the game.

Both teams stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Erin Hoehn entered with two Boilermakers on and no outs in the top half and retired the next three batters with two strikeouts, including a big punchout to end the inning. In the home half, Conway led off with an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, but was stranded there on a groundout to short.

Purdue put up a bigger threat in the sixth with three singles to load the bases with one out. Michigan paused the game for an extended circle meeting with the entire infield, then ended the inning just three pitches later when junior third baseman Maddie Erickson fielded a chopper, stepped on third and fired across the field to turn the double play at first.

Michigan closed out the game with a drama-free seventh inning, with Purdue going 1-2-3 on a popout, groundout and flyout to left field.

Senior RHP Lauren Derkowski (16-12) earned the win from the circle, allowing two runs — one earned — on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Hoehn picked up her third save of the season after allowing three more hits, no walks and posting two strikeouts over the final three frames.