Wolverines Split Opening Games at Texas Invitational

Friday, February 23

Austin, Texas

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

6-4

Virginia Tech

6-3

Virginia Tech

Michigan

Natalie Peters

2/23/2018 10:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 20 Michigan defeated Virginia Tech, 2-0, and fell to host Texas, 3-0, on the first day of the Texas Invitational.
» LHP Meghan Beaubien struck out four and allowed just three hits and no walks en route to a complete-game shutout against Virginia Tech -- her third shutout of the season.
» Michigan left 10 runners stranded in the Texas nightcap and failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in the second and fifth innings.

Site: Austin, Texas (Red and Charline McCombs Field)
Event: Texas Invitational (Day 1 of 3)
Scores: #20 Michigan 2, Virginia Tech 0; Texas 3, #20 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (6-5), VT (6-3), UT (5-5)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 24 -- vs. Virginia Tech - Texas Invitational (Austin, Texas), 9:30 a.m. CST

AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team split its first two games at the Texas Invitational, beating Virginia Tech, 2-0, in its opener before falling to host Texas, 3-0, on Friday (Feb. 23) at the Longhorns' Red and Charline McCombs Field.

The Wolverines' hitting struggles carried over from last weekend, though they were not without their opportunities. U-M used small ball to scratch out its two runs against Virginia Tech, scoring on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the second inning and sacrifice fly in the fifth. Michigan twice loaded the bases against the Longhorns but left 10 on base and was unable to score -- its third shutout loss of the season.

Freshman LHP Meghan Beaubien (5-1) was stout against the Hokies, striking out four while allowing just three hits and no walks through seven innings. It was her third complete-game shutout already this year. Virginia Tech put two runners in scoring position -- one apiece in the first and third innings -- and both times Beaubien forced a popout to end the inning.

Sophomore outfielder Haley Hoogenraad pushed across the winning run when an errant pitch hit her arm with the bases loaded -- after back-to-back singles and another hit batter with one out. Free bases also led to U-M's run in the fifth. Freshman shortstop Natalia Rodriguez drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced on a groudout and came home when senior RHP/first baseman Tera Blanco lifted a sac fly into shallow right-center.

Freshman RHP Sarah Schaefer (0-3) took the loss in the nightcap, allowing three runs off four hits and no walks with two strikeouts. All of the Longhorns' runs -- and all but two of their hits -- came in the third inning, when catcher Taylor Ellsworth knocked out a three-run homer to leftfield.

Junior centerfielder Natalie Peters went 2-for-4 to pace Michigan from the plate with singles in the fifth and seventh innings. She was part of the Wolverines' based-loaded opportunity in the former, before a strikeout ended the threat and the inning.

Michigan (6-5) will continue play at the Texas Invitational tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 24) with a 9:30 a.m. CST slate against Virginia Tech and a noon game against Wichita State at McCombs Field. The early game will be broadcast live on the Longhorn Network, while both will be on WCBN Radio.