Walk-off error ends Michigan’s Big Ten Tournament run against Penn State, 3-2, in pitchers’ duel

CHAMPAIGN — All it took was one errant throw to deliver the Michigan softball team its knockout.

The opening round of the Big Ten Tournament was a game of narrow margins — headlined by a pitching duel between Wolverines sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski and Penn State right-hander Bailey Parshall. But after the two teams traded soft blows, just one error delivered the final punch to Michigan (26-25 overall, 10-14 Big Ten) in the 3-2 loss to the Nittany Lions (31-15, 12-11).

From the beginning, the Wolverines struggled to get its offense rolling against Parshall. In the top of the first inning, freshman second baseman Indiana Langford reached on an infield single, but was not advanced, allowing Parshall to put up her first scoreless frame.

And establishing a similar level of dominance, Derkowski — who was named All-Big Ten second team earlier Wednesday — opened her day with two strikeouts on full counts en route to a 1-2-3 inning.

“For the first few innings she really shut them down,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “And that’s really been the mark of what she’s done and I just can’t say enough about just what she has done.”

Riding Derkowski’s initial shutdown, the Wolverines delivered the first punch in the second inning as graduate center fielder Ellie Mataya’s infield single gave them the leadoff runner. Following the hit with a bunt, error and sacrifice fielder’s choice, Michigan brought Mataya home without recording a hit. And with a 1-0 lead, the Wolverines turned to Derkowski to dodge a counterpunch.

But continuing to work its way back, Penn State finally tied the game in the fourth inning by exposing Derkowski’s weakness — home runs. Shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison’s solo shot was just the second hit given up by Derkowski to that point, but enough of a counterpunch to bring the game back to even.

And while the Nittany Lions looked to take the lead by extending the inning with two base runners, Derkowski laid down her third strikeout of the game to escape the inning.

Michigan had the opportunity to take another jab and regain the lead quickly. As Penn State turned to their number-two pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter — who holds a strong 2.13 ERA of her own — the Wolverines loaded the bases with two outs. Mataya delivered the blow with a blooper single to shallow center field, regaining the lead 2-1.

But as the stellar pitching continued, Michigan was held to just one run — unable to deliver a defining punch. 

“In those moments, we just need to be tougher with bases,” Tholl said, “As opposed to just getting one hit, which is great, (we would rather be) continuing to pass the bat. Let’s get one big hit when it’s most meaningful.”

And that inability to pass the bat opened the door for the Nittany Lions to strike on Derkowski’s second lapse of the game. In the sixth inning, Penn State capitalized after putting runners on second and third base with no outs, utilizing a sac-fly to bring home the game-tying run. However, that was all the Nittany Lions could muster as Derkowski turned to her changeup to deliver two strikeouts and end the inning — but not before receiving another soft counterpunch.

And with the game tied at 2-2 entering the seventh, only one more soft blow was destined to be a game defining moment.

But unfortunately for Michigan, Lingenfelter remained sharp — striking out five batters across the final two innings — leaving way for the Nittany Lions to deliver the final blow to Derkowski. That final blow, however, instead came from the Wolverines’ own hand. 

With the leadoff runner on, second baseman Melody Coombs sent a bunt down the third base line. Rushing to the ball in time, third baseman Ryleigh Carricaburu was primed to throw the runner out at second and negate the bunt. Instead she launched the ball into the outfield, allowing the runner to score in walk-off fashion — delivering the final blow to the Wolverines.

After trading soft blows it took only one self-inflicted knockout punch to put away Michigan — and knock it out of the Big Ten Tournament.