In the bottom of the seventh inning against UCLA, junior third-baseman Maddie Erickson already had four putouts. She’d already been one of the Michigan softball team’s most consistent performers throughout the weekend, but she had one more play left.
Bruins two-way player Kaitlyn Terry chopped a ground ball to third. Erickson, already moving in the diamond in anticipation, dove to field it. On her knees, she threw it to junior first baseman Madi Ramey for the final out of the game to secure the Wolverines back-to-back Big Ten titles.
“It was crucial that she provided us with her defense, even over her offense this weekend,” Wolverines coach Bonnie Tholl said May 11. “It’s going to be crucial moving forward. Maddie can be an electric player, and when she makes plays like that, it can turn momentum back into our favor. And that’s exactly what happened in at least three of our four games this week.”
Erickson’s grittiness is always present in her game, constantly laying her body on the line for her team, but it shone last week. Against Oregon, she dove into the dirt on the third-base line for a foul popup, sacrificing her body for the out. Erickson’s self-sacrificing style of play is greatly appreciated by her pitchers, who know the stalwart third-baseman can make the big plays if they do pitch to contact.
“I know that every time that the ball is going her way, she’s gonna go all out for it,” senior right-hander Lauren Derkowski said Feb. 2. “She’s always gonna want to make that play and give all her effort for it, which is great, and it’s a great feeling to have all of our defense like that behind you when you’re on the mound.”
Against opponents that had already defeated Michigan, the team knew their defense would need to be excellent to beat the likes of top seeds Oregon and UCLA. Talented teams can exploit every error, and can easily turn doubles into runs with their potent offenses. Erickson provided exactly the kind of calm, steady fielding the Wolverines needed to limit those opportunities for their opponents. At one of the most difficult positions in the sport, the hot corner, Erickson spent the week fielding balls perfectly, recording no errors. She had eight put-outs, including three in the finale against UCLA, and seven assists.
More than just her defense, however, Erickson was a spark for Michigan’s offense. Her double kicked off the Wolverines’ scoring against Oregon, as the shot to right center sent redshirt sophomore catcher Lilly Vallimont home. Later in the game, she hit a single to right field, giving Michigan the fifth and final run of its victory of the day. Erickson was a star all weekend, as she has been for much of the season.
“Maddie Erickson is a dog,” sophomore outfielder Jenissa Conway said Feb. 11. “She owns third base. … She’s grown a lot since I’ve known her, and to see her at the plate, at third base being like, ‘No, this is my town, this is my world, and you’re just living in it.’ She’s super confident, and I love that, and she plays it, and it shows.”
While Erickson has pitched in impressive performances at third base all season, her play stood out even more at the highest level. And for a team that got hot at the right time, Erickson was the spark plug that kicked it off.
