The Wolverines (35-19) will need to win three more games to repeat as champions in an expanded Big Ten and secure an automatic bid into the NCAAs. They advance to face No. 1 seed Oregon at approximately 4:30 p.m. Thursday. They knocked off another bubble team in Wisconsin, using Derkowski’s right arm and the long ball to do it.

Tholl had her players believe in the process a year ago when she guided the Wolverines to a 43-18 record, including 33 wins in their final 42 games. They won the Big Ten tournament title and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Oklahoma State in the regional final.

Big Ten Softball Tournament begins today in West Lafayette with No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 6 Iowa at 10 a.m. CT. Oregon, NFCA Coaches’ No. 4 ranked team in the country, earned the top seed in the tournament with a blistering 19-3 record in conference play that included a series win over the No.