Michigan, Derkowski spoil Penn State’s Senior Day in extras

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A duel.

Michigan’s Lauren Derkowski and Penn State’s Bridget Nemeth went toe-to-toe Sunday afternoon.

The Wolverines ace one-upped Penn State’s freshman standout on Senior Day at Beard Field.

The maize and blue completed the three-game sweep over the Nittany Lions with a 3-2 win in extras.

Both Derkowski and Nemeth went the distance, pitching all nine innings in a game that featured no more than one run in a half-inning.

The two stars in the circle held the Wolverines and the Nittany Lions hitless and scoreless through the first three innings.

Each side plated a run in the fourth via an RBI single for Keke Tholl and a double from senior Emily Maddock to score fellow fourth-year Liana Jones.

Following a scoreless fifth, Michigan nabbed a 2-1 lead off the bat of Tholl once again.

The first baseman launched one over the centerfield wall to give the Wolverines a lead they held until Penn State’s last breath.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Brooke Klosowicz pinch-hit for Gianna Poletti with runners on the corners.

The freshman came through for coach Crowell in the big spot, lining one into center for a base hit to tie the game.

“I don’t even think of her as a freshman anymore,” Crowell said postgame. “I know that everything she comes into the box, she’s going to do something productive.”

Derkowski followed just her second big mistake of the game with her 12th and final strikeout of the afternoon, retiring Kaitlyn Morrison by way of the K with the potential winning run on third.

Each team left one base runner stranded in the eighth inning, and the magic transpired in the ninth for Michigan.

Jenissa Conway got things started with a two-out walk and stole second base on a close play.

Catcher Lilly Vallimont sent Conway home with an RBI single to left field on the sixth pitch of the at-bat in a 2-2 count.

In the bottom half of the ninth, Derkowski mowed down the side one-two-three on eight pitches to seal the sweep for the Wolverines.

“Derkowski is their horse,” coach Crowell said. “Nemeth is our horse, and that’s what horses do.”

“They throw game one. They come in and throw game two, and then they throw game three.”

Red-hot Michigan spoiled Penn State’s Senior Day celebration as the Nittany Lions honored their six seniors before Sunday’s game.

With the loss, Penn State falls to 11-9 in conference play. The Nittany Lions remain tied for the seventh spot in the Big Ten with one series to play.

Had they won on Sunday, Penn State would sit in the fourth slot in the conference, the last seed that receives a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament.

Now with three games to play at the home of the current three seed, Rutgers, Penn State will need outside help to obtain a top-four seed in the conference tournament.

The blue and white travel to New Jersey for a three-game series beginning on Friday.

Rocco Pellegrino is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email rdp5387@psu.edu.