Wolverines Blank Boilermakers to Claim Series Sweep

Sunday, April 1

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

28-7, 4-1

Purdue

8-27, 1-5

Purdue

Michigan

4/1/2018 4:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan used a five-run fifth inning to highlight its 6-0 win against Purdue and completed the weekend series sweep.
» Tera Blanco knocked out a fifth-inning grand slam -- her third home run in two games and eighth of the season.
» Left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien earned the win in relief, striking out six while allowing one hit and a walk through 3.1 innings pitched.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #17 Michigan 6, Purdue 0
Records: U-M (28-7, 4-1 Big Ten), PU (8-27, 1-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, April 4 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a five-run fifth inning -- highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of senior Tera Blanco -- to break open its series finale against Purdue and earn a 6-0 decision to complete the weekend sweep on Sunday afternoon (April 1) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

Blanco's grand slam was her third home run in two games and eighth of the season and followed a walk and back-to-back singles from the top of the Wolverine order to lead off the fifth inning. Blanco connected with the first pitch and drove it deep into the grandstand beyond right field. The Wolverine senior was intentionally walked in two of her other three plate appearances. She went 6-for-8 with three homers and 10 RBI over the three-game series.

Freshman designated player Lou Allan and sophomore third baseman Madison Uden followed Blanco's grand slam with first-pitch doubles. Uden earned an RBI on the latter, pulling the two-bagger down the right-field line to score pinch-runner Thais Gonzalez from second base.

The Wolverines had held a narrow one-run lead before the breakthrough in the fifth. Junior catcher Katie Alexander led off with a single to center field, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored when junior second baseman Faith Canfield roped a single into left field and the Boilermaker couldn't field it cleanly. The base knock extended Canfield's hit streak to 16 games. Like Blanco, she posted six hits on the weekend with a pair of RBI.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (20-2) earned the win in relief, entering with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning and maintaining the Wolverine shutout. She posted six strikeouts and allowed one hit and one walk over 3.1 innings pitched. Blanco was also solid from the start, striking out five and allowing three hits and a walk through 3.2 innings.

Michigan (28-7, 4-1 Big Ten) will host Washtenaw County rival Eastern Michigan at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (April 4) at Alumni Field. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office or at the Alumni Field gate.