Wolverines Open FAU Tournament with Two Wins

Friday, March 9

Boca Raton, Fla.

3:45 PM

Michigan

14-6

Stony Brook

4-7

Stony Brook

Michigan

3/9/2018 9:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 22 Michigan defeated Stony Brook, 7-0, and host FAU, 7-1, on its first day of competition at the FAU "Parent's Weekend" Tournament.
» Faith Canfield posted three hits -- two doubles and a home run -- and five runs batted in, while Lou Allan drove in four in two pinch-hit appearances.
» Michigan extended its win streak to nine straight games -- its longest of the season.

Site: Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Softball Stadium)
Event: FAU "Parent's Weekend" Tournament (Day 1 of 3)
Scores: #22 Michigan 7, Stony Brook 0; #22 Michigan 7, FAU 1
Records: U-M (15-6), SBU (4-7), FAU (11-13)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 10 -- vs. Ball State - FAU Tournament (Boca Raton, Fla.), 9 a.m.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan softball team extended its winning streak to nine a row with a pair of decisions on the opening day at the FAU "Parent's Weekend' Tournament, defeating Stony Brook, 7-0, and host Florida Atlantic, 7-1, on Friday evening (March 9) at the FAU Softball Stadium.

Junior second baseman Faith Canfield, the National Player of the Week, stayed hot at the plate with three hits and five runs batted in on the day, which included a two-run homer against the Owls, while freshman Lou Allan drove in four runs in two pinch-hit appearances.

All three Wolverine pitchers saw time in the circle, with senior right-handed pitcher Tera Blanco (4-1) registering five strikeouts and four hits allowed through six innings en route to the Stony Brook win. Freshman LHP Meghan Beaubien (11-2) fanned seven and allowed just two hits over five innings against FAU. Freshman right-hander Sarah Schaefer added five strikeouts through three relief innings over the two games.

Both games followed a similar script, with the Wolverines scoring an early run or two before breaking it open with a big sixth inning.

Michigan earned a fortuitous bounce to score its first runs in the second inning against Stony Brook. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, junior third baseman Alex Sobczak sent a grounder foul down the first-base line. Just as the Seawolf first baseman bent down to pick it up, the ball kicked hard left into fair territory and got past her to allow both baserunners to cross home plate safely.

Blanco padded the Wolverines' lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth before U-M added four more in the sixth -- the bulk on Canfield's three-run double to the center-field warning track which barely stayed inside the park -- for her second double of the contest.

Blanco and Canfield were also major contributors to the sixth-inning six-spot against the home-team Owls later in the evening. Blanco crushed the first pitch of the inning deep over the center-field fence for her third home run of the season. Michigan plated the rest of its runs with two outs. Allan entered to pinch hit with the bases loaded and looped the first pitch she saw down the right-field line for a bases-clearing double. Canfield drove her in just two pitches later with a two-run homer over the left-center field fence -- her fifth long ball of the season.

The Owls scored on a wild pitch with two outs to spoil Michigan's shutout bid. Schaefer forced a groundout to end the inning just one pitch later.

Michigan (15-6) will return to the FAU Softball Stadium for two more games at the "Parent's Weekend" Tournament on Saturday (March 10). The Wolverines will face Ball State at 9 a.m. and Pittsburgh at 11:15 a.m. at the Owls' FAU Softball Stadium.