2023 Michigan Wolverines softball team explained
The 2023 Michigan Wolverines softball team was an American college softball team that represents the University of Michigan during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Wolverines, wee led by head coach Bonnie Tholl in her first season, and played their home games at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Previous season
The Wolverines finished the 2022 season 38–18 overall, and 14–8 in the Big Ten, finishing in fifth place in their conference. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Wolverines received an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and were defeated in the Regional Final by UCF.[1]
Preseason
On June 13, 2022, graduate student Alex Storako transferred to Oklahoma.[2] The next day, sophomore pitcher Annabelle Widra transferred to Auburn.[3] On July 5, 2022, Michigan added three transfer students, outfielder Ellie Mataya and pitchers Hannah George and Jessica LeBeau.[4]
On August 24, 2022, long-time head coach Carol Hutchins announced her retirement after 38 years as head coach at Michigan. At the time of her retirement, she was the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history with a record of 1,707–555–5. During her career as head coach, Michigan never suffered a losing season, and she led the team to 22 Big Ten regular-season titles from 1995–2021, including nine in a row from 2008–16, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 29 times, including each of the last 27 years.[5] [6] Later that day former Michigan associate head coach Bonnie Tholl was promoted to head coach.[7]
Schedule and results
| 2023 Michigan Wolverines Softball Game Log |
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| Regular season (26–24) |
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| February (7–8) |
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| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | B1G record |
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| February 9 | | | USF Softball Stadium
Tampa, FL | 1–2 (8) | Dixon (1–0) | Derkowski (0–1) | Hill (1) | 1,506 | 0–1 | — | | February 10 | vs. Colgate
The Spring Games | | Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex
Leesburg, FL | 10–0 (5) | LeBeau (1–0) | Misken (0–1) | — | — | 1–1 | — | | February 11 | vs. Western Kentucky
The Spring Games | | Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex
Leesburg, FL | 5–2 | Derkowski (1–1) | Houchens (0–1) | — | 350 | 2–1 | — | | February 11 | vs. Western Kentucky
The Spring Games | | Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex
Leesburg, FL | 5–2 (9) | Derkowski (2–1) | Gardner (1–2) | — | 300 | 3–1 | — | | February 12 | vs. Portland State
The Spring Games | | Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex
Leesburg, FL | 9–1 (6) | LeBeau (2–0) | Grey (2–1) | — | — | 4–1 | — | | February 17 | vs. No. 20 UCF
St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational | No. 25 | Eddie C. Moore Complex
Clearwater, FL | 2–8 | DeVoe (2–1) | Derkowski (2–2) | — | 657 | 4–2 | — | | February 17 | vs. Louisiana
St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational | No. 25 | Eddie C. Moore Complex
Clearwater, FL | 7–6 | LeBeau (3–0) | Landry (2–1) | — | 657 | 5–2 | — | | February 18 | vs. No. 5 Oklahoma State
St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational | No. 25 | Eddie C. Moore Complex
Clearwater, FL | 6–15 (6) | Runner (1–0) | LeBeau (3–1) | — | 5,632 | 5–3 | — | | February 18 | vs. Mississippi State
St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational | No. 25 | Eddie C. Moore Complex
Clearwater, FL | 5–4 | Derkowski (3–2) | Hawk (1–2) | — | 5,632 | 6–3 | — | | February 19 | vs. No. 16 Duke
St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational | No. 25 | Eddie C. Moore Complex
Clearwater, FL | 3–6 | Davidson (2–1) | LeBeau (3–2) | Wright (1) | — | 6–4 | — | | February 24 | vs. Boise State
Stanford Invitational | | Smith Family Stadium
Stanford, CA | 2–4 | Walljasper (4–1) | Derkowski (3–3) | — | 57 | 6–5 | — | | February 24 | vs. Nevada
Stanford Invitational | | Smith Family Stadium
Stanford, CA | 0–3 | Craft (3–0) | LeBeau (3–3) | — | 74 | 6–6 | — | | February 25 | vs. Boise State
Stanford Invitational | | Smith Family Stadium
Stanford, CA | 2–1 | LeBeau (4–3) | Caudill (1–3) | — | 116 | 7–6 | — | | February 25 | at No. 16 Stanford
Stanford Invitational | | Smith Family Stadium
Stanford, CA | 0–5 | Vawter (5–1) | Derkowski (3–4) | — | 315 | 7–7 | — | | February 26 | at No. 16 Stanford
Stanford Invitational | | Smith Family Stadium
Stanford, CA | 1–3 | Krause (3–1) | LeBeau (4–4) | — | 115 | 7–8 | — | | February 28 | | | Cottrell Field
Moraga, CA | Cancelled[8] | |
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| March (9–5) |
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| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | B1G record |
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| March 2 | vs. UCF
Judi Garman Classic | | Anderson Family Field
Fullerton, CA | 2–0 | LeBeau (5–4) | Felton (3–3) | — | 494 | 8–8 | — | | March 2 | at Cal State Fullerton
Judi Garman Classic | | Anderson Family Field
Fullerton, CA | 2–1 (8) | Derkowski (4–4) | Sutherlin (4–2) | — | 494 | 9–8 | — | | March 3 | vs. No. 15 LSU
Judi Garman Classic | | Anderson Family Field
Fullerton, CA | 0–2 | Kilponen (5–0) | LeBeau (5–5) | — | 357 | 9–9 | — | | March 3 | vs. Seattle
Judi Garman Classic | | Anderson Family Field
Fullerton, CA | 3–2 | Derkowski (5–4) | Ilacqua (7–2) | — | 325 | 10–9 | — | | March 4 | vs. No. 2 UCLA
Judi Garman Classic | | Anderson Family Field
Fullerton, CA | 0–8 (5) | Faraimo (11–1) | LeBeau (5–6) | — | — | 10–10 | — | | March 9 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 4–0 | Derkowski (6–4) | Kelly (2–4) | — | 202 | 11–10 | — | | March 10 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | Cancelled[9] | | March 11 | Georgia Southern | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | Cancelled | | March 11 | Kent State | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | Cancelled | | March 12 | Kent State | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | Cancelled | | March 15 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 9–0 (5) | Derkowski (7–4) | Anderson (5–2) | — | 773 | 12–10 | — | | March 18 | vs. Longwood
John Cropp Classic | | John Cropp Stadium
Lexington, KY | 2–1 | Derkowski (8–4) | Burton (4–6) | — | — | 13–10 | — | | March 18 | at No. 14 Kentucky
John Cropp Classic | | John Cropp Stadium
Lexington, KY | Cancelled | | March 19 | vs. DePaul
John Cropp Classic | | John Cropp Stadium
Lexington, KY | Cancelled | | March 19 | at No. 14 Kentucky
John Cropp Classic | | John Cropp Stadium
Lexington, KY | 1–2 | Schoonover(11–1) | Derkowski (8–5) | — | 1,077 | 13–11 | — | | March 24 | | | Buckeye Field
Columbus, OH | Postponed[10] | | March 25 | at Ohio State | | Buckeye Field
Columbus, OH | Postponed | | March 26 | at Ohio State | | Buckeye Field
Columbus, OH | 3–1 (10) | Derkowski (9–5) | Smith (9–4) | — | 1,773 | 14–11 | 1–0 | | March 26 | at Ohio State | | Buckeye Field
Columbus, OH | 2–11 (5) | Ruck (5–4) | LeBeau (5–7) | — | 1,325 | 14–12 | 1–1 | | March 27 | at Ohio State | | Buckeye Field
Columbus, OH | 7–8 | Smith (10–4) | Derkowski (9–6) | Ruck (1) | 405 | 14–13 | 1–2 | | March 29 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 9–0 (5) | LeBeau (6–7) | Campbell (5–4) | — | 1,109 | 15–13 | — | | March 31 | | | Bowlin Stadium
Lincoln, NE | 10–1 (5) | Derkowski (10–6) | Wallace (15–7) | — | 691 | 16–13 | 2–2 | |
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| April (8–8) |
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| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | B1G record |
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| April 1 | at Nebraska | | Bowlin Stadium
Lincoln, NE | 0–8 (5) | Wallace (16–7) | LeBeau (6–8) | — | 941 | 16–14 | 2–3 | | April 2 | at Nebraska | | Bowlin Stadium
Lincoln, NE | 4–2 | Derkowski (11–6) | Harness (8–4) | — | 1,137 | 17–14 | 3–3 | | April 5 | at Michigan State | | Secchia Stadium
East Lansing, MI | Postponed[11] | | April 7 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 0–3 | Sickels (11–6) | Derkowski (11–7) | — | 1,339 | 17–15 | 3–4 | | April 8 | Illinois | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 3–2 | LeBeau (7–8) | McQueen (4–3) | | 1,941 | 18–15 | 4–4 | | April 9 | Illinois | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 2–1 (8) | | Sickels (11–7) | — | 1,463 | 19–15 | 5–4 | | April 12 | at Michigan State | | Secchia Stadium
East Lansing, MI | 5–2 | Derkowski (13–7) | Guidry (2–7) | — | 1,264 | 20–15 | 6–4 | | April 14 | | | Bittinger Stadium
West Lafayette, IN | 4–0 | Derkowski (14–7) | | — | 509 | 21–15 | 7–4 | | April 15 | at Purdue | | Bittinger Stadium
West Lafayette, IN | 2–3 | Elish (8–2) | LeBeau (7–9) | — | 686 | 21–16 | 7–5 | | April 15 | at Purdue | | Bittinger Stadium
West Lafayette, IN | 5–0 | Derkowski (15–7) | Echazarreta (5–11) | — | 99 | 22–16 | 8–5 | | April 18 | Michigan State | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 8–0 (5) | Derkowski (16–7) | Guidry (3–9) | — | 2,104 | 23–16 | 9–5 | | April 21 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 3–4 (11) | Boyd (7–3) | LeBeau (7–10) | — | 1,384 | 23–17 | 9–6 | | April 22 | No. 21 Northwestern | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 15–0 (5) | Derkowski (17–7) | Henry (10–2) | — | 1,852 | 24–17 | 10–6 | | April 23 | No. 21 Northwestern | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 0–3 | Williams (12–1) | Derkowski (17–8) | — | 2,130 | 24–18 | 10–7 | | April 28 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | Postponed[12] | | April 29 | Indiana | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 1–4 | Copeland (17–2) | Derkowski (17–9) | — | 1,881 | 24–19 | 10–8 | | April 29 | Indiana | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 1–15 (6) | Johnson (13–6) | LeBeau (7–11) | — | 1,881 | 24–20 | 10–9 | | April 30 | Indiana | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 5–6 | Copeland (18–2) | Derkowski (17–10) | Johnson (4) | 1,948 | 24–21 | 10–10 | |
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| May (2–3) |
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| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium
Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | B1G record |
|---|
| May 2 | | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 9–1 (5) | Derkowski (18–10) | Godwin (4–10) | — | 1,037 | 25–21 | — | | May 3 | Oakland | | Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI | 13–0 (5) | LeBeau (8–11) | Konyvka (0–7) | — | 318 | 26–21 | — | | May 5 | | | Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Minneapolis, MN | 0–3 | Pease (24–6) | Derkowski (18–11) | — | 830 | 26–22 | 10–11 | | May 6 | at Minnesota | | Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Minneapolis, MN | 10–13 | Schwartz (2–1) | Derkowski (18–12) | — | 863 | 26–23 | 10–12 | | May 7 | at Minnesota | | Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Minneapolis, MN | 0–2 | Pease (25–6) | Derkowski (18–13) | — | 961 | 26–24 | 10–13 | |
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| Post-season (0–1) |
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Rankings
See main article: 2023 NCAA Division I softball rankings.
Notes and References
- Web site: Wolverines Fall to Host UCF in NCAA Regional Final . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . May 22, 2022 . December 24, 2022.
- Web site: Michigan softball pitcher Alex Storako transfers to Oklahoma for final season . . Angelique S. . Chengelis . June 13, 2022 . December 24, 2022.
- Web site: Michigan softball loses another pitcher to transfer portal . . Ryan . Zuke . June 14, 2022 . December 24, 2022.
- Web site: Wolverines Add Three Transfer Students to Softball Program. December 24, 2022. August 24, 2022. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. Leah. Howard.
- Web site: Hutchins Announces Retirement After 38 Seasons at Helm of U-M Softball. December 24, 2022. August 24, 2022. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. Leah. Howard.
- Web site: The Profound Legacy of Carol Hutchins. December 24, 2022. August 24, 2022. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. Barb. Cossman.
- Web site: Tholl Named Head Coach of Michigan Softball. December 24, 2022. August 24, 2022. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. Leah. Howard.
- Web site: Rain Washes Out Midweek Softball Game at Saint Mary's . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . February 28, 2023 . February 28, 2023.
- Web site: Inclement Weather Alters Home-Opening Weekend Schedule . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . March 8, 2023 . March 8, 2023.
- Web site: Wolverines' Series Opener at Ohio State Postponed to Sunday . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . March 25, 2023 . March 25, 2023.
- Web site: Weather Postpones Wolverines' Rivalry Game at Michigan State . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . April 5, 2023 . April 5, 2023.
- Web site: U-M's Friday Opener Against Indiana Postponed, Doubleheader Saturday . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . April 28, 2023 . April 28, 2023.
