» Michigan rallied from an initial deficit and scored its runs in the fourth and sixth innings to defeat Indiana 3-1 for its 11th Big Ten Tournament title in program history.
» Indiana Langford posted a hit and scored two runs, while Ella Stephenson drove in the tying run.
» Lauren Derkowski allowed one run on seven hits and two walks to claim the win and Big Ten Tournament MVP honors, Ella McVey and Keke Tholl also earned All-Tournament honors.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan softball team captured its 11th Big Ten Conference Tournament crown with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Indiana on Saturday afternoon (May 11) at Iowa's Bob Pearl Field. With the tournament win -- their first since 2019 -- the Wolverines also secured the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Despite Michigan largely making harder contact throughout the game, IU outhit the Wolverines 7-2 and U-M instead used small ball and savvy baserunning to rally from an initial deficit and plate its runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

The Hoosiers scored their lone run in the top of the second, stringing together a pair of hits with a two-out RBI double that floated into the no man's land between sophomore second baseman Indiana Langford and freshman right fielder Ella Stephenson.

Langford registered Michigan's first hit with a leadoff bunt single in the fourth and, after getting caught between first and second, took the extra base to put herself in scoring position. She tied the game on the next pitch when Stephenson sent a soft bloop single over the first baseman's head.

Michigan also relied on strong defense throughout the game. Freshman outfielder Jenissa Conway turned an 8-3 double play to end the third inning, and junior shortstop Ella McVey threw out a Hoosier at home plate after making a diving stop to keep the ball on the infield. She hopped up and, with the IU runner turning third, took several steps toward the plate to make the easy throw and third out to keep the game tied in the top of the sixth.

The Wolverines took the lead in the home half of the inning. Junior outfielder Ellie Sieler and Langford drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning and, when ball four against Langford got away from the IU catcher, both took an additional base to put two in scoring position with no outs. After an Indiana pitching change and a groundout, senior first baseman Keke Tholl sent a tapper back to the circle, where the Hoosier pitcher fielded it then threw it wide of home plate, allowing both Sieler and Langford to score on the error.

Indiana used a bloop single and a walk put two runners on with one out in the seventh. Junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski forced a flyout then handled the final out herself as a bouncing comebacker to the circle knocked her glove off but she recovered to pick up the ball and toss it to first base in time.

Derkowski (19-8), who was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP, allowed one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out six Hoosier batters. She threw every pitch through U-M's three-game tournament slate.

McVey and Tholl joined Derkowski on the All-Tournament Team.

The NCAA Tournament bracket and regional sites will be announced Sunday (May 12) at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Michigan will return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the field last season. It will be the Wolverines' 28th appearance in 29 years. U-M has reached the Women's College World Series 12 times and won the 2005 national championship.