Beaubien Tosses No-Hitter in Purdue Series Opener

Friday, March 30

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

26-7, 2-1

Purdue

8-25, 1-3

Purdue

Michigan

3/30/2018 7:46:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan scored two runs in the first and fifth innings to earn a 4-0 win against Purdue in the three-game weekend series opener.
» Left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien tossed an eight-strikeout no-hitter -- the second of her collegiate career and fourth for the Wolverines this season.
» Tera Blanco went 2-for-3 with a two-run single in the fifth; U-M earned its first-inning runs on a pair of wild pitches.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #17 Michigan 4, Purdue 0
Records: U-M (26-7, 2-1 Big Ten), PU (8-25, 1-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 31 -- vs. Purdue (Wilpon Complex), 11 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman left-hander Meghan Beaubien tossed an eight-strikeout no-hitter to headline the No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 4-0 win in the series opener against Purdue on Friday afternoon (March 30) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The no-hitter was the second for Beaubien in her young collegiate career. It also was the fourth for Michigan this season -- and second in as many games.

Beaubien (18-2) faced just one more than the minimum after a hit-by-pitch in the top of the fifth spoiled her bid for a perfect game. She struck out eight over seven innings, including two apiece in the third and fifth frames -- the latter after a sacrifice bunt moved the Boilermaker runner into scoring position.

Beaubien previously threw a no-hitter in her first collegiate start against Georgia State (Feb. 9) and combined for a five-inning effort with fellow freshman Sarah Schaefer against Detroit Mercy last Wednesday (March 28).

Michigan took advantage of a pair of wild pitches to score the first and game-winning runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, as both junior center fielder Natalie Peters and senior first baseman Tera Blanco scampered home during an extended, 11-pitch at-bat from senior right fielder Aidan Falk.

The Wolverines again capitalized on a Purdue miscue to double their lead in the fifth inning when an errant throw to second allowed U-M's speediest baserunners, freshman shortstop Natalia Rodriguez and Peters, to move into scoring position. Blanco roped a single into center just two pitches later to score both.

The biggest threat to Beaubien's no-hit bid came in the top of the sixth when Boilermaker pinch-hitter Morgan Cavinder flew a deep ball to right field, and Falk came up with an incredible over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track. Beaubien retired the next five straight -- three on groundouts to Rodriguez -- and ended the game on a foul pop caught by junior catcher Katie Alexander.

Michigan (26-7) will resume the weekend series with Purdue at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, March 31) at Alumni Field. It is an earlier start time than previously scheduled due to a rainy afternoon forecast. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office or at the Alumni Field gate.