Michigan softball is on a roll right now, and it doesn't feel like anyone can stop them. After a close nail-biter in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament against Wisconsin in which the Wolverines walked away with the 3-2 victory, Michigan was set to face the No. 1 seed Oregon, which was ranked the No. 4 team in the country.
So far this season, Michigan has yet to beat a ranked team, but they found a way to do it when it mattered most when they not only beat the Oregon Ducks in the second round of the tournament, but they also shut out a team that averages almost eight runs a game 5-0.
That win vaulted Michigan in the semifinals, and at the time, they knew they were either facing 12-seed Purdue or their hated rival, 4-seed Ohio State. It ended up that Michigan wasn't the only one with an upset on the day, as the Boilermakers pulled off their second big upset of the tournament as they took down the Buckeyes, setting up a showdown in the semis.
Before the Big Ten Tournament started, when the bracket was revealed, it felt like Michigan had been dealt a tough hand as the 8-seed, having to face the No. 1 seed had they won in the first round. Then, if they made it back, they were going to potentially face higher seeds the rest of the way.
Instead, Michigan will get to be the home team again in the tournament as the Boilermakers have done something no one was expecting and pulled off not one but two upsets over higher-ranked seeds.
The Wolverines will turn not just to their pitching but also to their bats in the semifinals against Purdue. Third baseman Maddie Erickson had herself a day against Oregon, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one heck of a play in the sixth inning, laying out for a popped-up bunt down the foul line.
Michigan pitching will have to be on par yet again, as Lauren Derkowski and Erin Hoelin pitched lights out against the Ducks, coming for seven scoreless innings, five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
The Wolverines will take on Purdue in the semifinals on Friday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.