Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Blanco Homers, Throws No-Hitter in Victory against Eastern Michigan
4/10/2018 7:45:00 PM | Softball
» No. 17 Michigan scored runs in four different innings to claim a 4-0 win in a rescheduled midweek matchup against Eastern Michigan.
» Right-handed pitcher Tera Blanco tossed her first collegiate no-hitter, striking out 12 Eagle batters, for U-M's program-record fifth no-hitter this season.
» Blanco also knocked out a fifth-inning solo home run; Haley Hoogenraad paced the Wolverine hits with two base knocks and an RBI.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #17 Michigan 4, Eastern Michigan 0
Records: U-M (32-7), EMU (4-28)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, April 11 -- vs. Michigan State (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior right-handed pitcher Tera Blanco tossed her first collegiate no-hitter in the No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 4-0 victory against Washtenaw County foes Eastern Michigan on Tuesday afternoon (April 10) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The Wolverines extended their win streak to eight games and improved to 6-0 at home.
Blanco (7-2) posted a season-high 12 strikeouts against the Eagles -- just one off her career best -- while allowing three EMU baserunners on a pair of walks and a fielding error. Her no-hitter is Michigan's fifth this season, a single-season program record. Blanco previously combined with former Wolverine Megan Betsa for a five-inning no-hitter last season at Rutgers.
Michigan scored a run apiece in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings. Junior catcher Katie Alexander scored the first and game-winning run on a wild pitch, high and to the backstop, in the second after reaching on a two-base fielding error and advancing to third on an earlier wild pitch.
Blanco helped her cause at the plate with two of Michigan's four runs scored, crossing the plate on sophomore third baseman Madison Uden's single to right field in the third before lining a first-pitch solo home run just over the right-field wall in the fifth inning for her ninth long ball of the season.
Sophomore Haley Hoogenraad continued her recent tear at home with an RBI double in the sixth -- her second hit of the contest. Junior outfielder Courtney Richardson led off the inning with a well-placed single down the left-field line, and just two pitches later, Hoogenraad roped a double into the left-center field gap to send her home.
Blanco posted at least one strikeout in all seven innings, including striking out the side in the seventh inning to close out the game.
Michigan (32-7) will host another in-state rival tomorrow (Wednesday, April 11), taking on Michigan State at 6 p.m. at Alumni Field. Tickets remain available through the U-M Ticket Office. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
