Bonnie Tholl reveals key to overcoming Maryland pitcher Courtney Wyche in Big Ten Tournament

Maryland pitcher Courtney Wyche held 2-seed Michigan scoreless on a 41 percent strikeout percentage through four innings of the Wolverines’ quarterfinal matchup in the Big Ten Tournament.

Attempting to adjust to her powerful pitching style mid-game, not to mention the downpour of rain at the tournament, Michigan head coach Bonnie Tholl explained how her team needs to change their approach against the Maryland ace heading into the later innings.

“The message to them was that she’s going to get her swings and misses tonight,” Tholl said on the Big Ten Network broadcast. “She’s going to get her strikeouts, but we’re going to continue to pass the bat and take our aggressive cuts. I think that we’re on time with her, so we don’t have to worry about her throwing the ball past us right now.

“I think she’s not as fast as what our kids expected. Although 70 miles per hour is still 70 miles per hour. But we’re still able to catch up so I think we need to trust that we can see the ball deep. She’s keeping it on the outer half of the plate, and then when we had that opportunity we need to get to the back of the ball and drive it back up the middle.”

On the other side of the plate, Lauren Derkowski earned the start on the mound for the Wolverines. Through four innings of work she kept the Terrapins scoreless despite allowing two hits and walking two more. She logged three strikeouts over that stretch.

“We want [Derkowski] to be her,” Tholl continued. “So [associate head coach] Jen Brundage is going to call mostly to what [Derkowski’s] strengths are. And that’s, that’s how we’re going to roll. That’s how we’re going to get ourselves out of innings and get ourselves back in the dugout to crash the bat.”

Maryland, the tournament’s 10-seed who knocked off 7-seed Penn State on Wednesday, is giving the Wolverines all they can handle down the stretch. Led by Wyche’s arm, all Michigan can do is adjust to their environment and take their coaches advice.

The winner will advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals and will face whoever emerges victorious between 3-seed Rutgers and 11-seed Wisconsin. That game will be played following the conclusion of Michigan-Maryland.

8-seed Indiana and 4-seed Nebraska have already advance to the semifinals and will face off against one another to begin action on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will air live on the Big Ten Network.