Michigan
29-7, 0
Penn State
6-24, 0
Wolverines Run Rule Penn State in Series Opener
4/6/2018 10:03:00 PM | Softball
» No. 17 Michigan scored seven runs in the sixth inning to earn a 14-2 run-rule decision in the series opener at Penn State.
» U-M matched a season high with 15 hits; Faith Canfield, Madison Uden and Katie Alexander all posted three hits, while Canfield extended her hit streak to 17 games.
» Natalie Peters (fourth inning) and Lou Allan (fifth inning) hit a home run ; it was Peters' third collegiate homer and Allan's first.
Site: State College, Pa. (Beard Field)
Scores: #17 Michigan 14, Penn State 2 (6 inn.)
Records: U-M (29-7, 5-1 Big Ten), PSU (8-27, 1-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 7 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 3 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team kicked off its weekend series at Penn State in dominant fashion, plating seven runs in the sixth inning to secure a 14-2 run-rule victory on Friday evening (April 6) at the Nittany Lions' Beard Field.
Seven different players recorded hits for the Wolverines, who matched a season high with 15 in the game, including five in their seven-run sixth inning. Junior second baseman Faith Canfield, sophomore third baseman Madison Uden and junior catcher Katie Alexander registered three hits apiece, while junior center fielder Natalie Peters and freshman designated player Lou Allan posted their first home runs of the season.
After going down in order in the first inning, the Wolverines found their stride in the second, plating three runs on four hits and an error. Senior right fielder Aidan Falk drove in the first and winning run on a double to center -- U-M matched a season high with five two-baggers -- while Uden and Alexander followed with RBI singles.
Peters and Allan homered in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and perhaps aided by a sharp wind blowing out to center field. Peters followed a Canfield double, which extended her hit streak to 17 games, with a skied two-run shot to center -- the third long ball of Peters' Â career and second to exit the park on Friday. Allan notched her first collegiate homer off the first pitch of the fifth inning, driving it deep over the left-field wall.
Penn State broke up the shutout bid with two runs off a walk and two hits in the bottom of the fifth, but Michigan responded by pushing the game well into run-rule territory in its next turn at the plate. Canfield tallied two hits in the inning, leading off the frame with a single through the left side before driving in two runs -- the last of the game -- on another single to left nine batters later. Allan, Uden and Alexander also posted their second RBI hits of the contest.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (21-2) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk through five innings, while striking out 10 Nittany Lion batters -- her fourth game this season with double-digit strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Sarah Schaefer entered to close out the game in the sixth, retiring PSU in order on 11 pitches.
Michigan (29-7, 5-1 Big Ten) will continue its three-game series at Penn State with a 3 p.m. slate tomorrow (Saturday, April 7) at the Nittany Lions' Beard Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Beaubien, Meghan (21-2)
L: Cummings (4-9)
Batting:
2B: Canfield, Faith 1 ; Allan, Lou 1 ; Falk, Aidan 1 ; Uden, Madison 1 ; Alexander, Katie 1
HR: Peters, Natalie 1 ; Allan, Lou 1
RBI: Canfield, Faith 2 ; Peters, Natalie 2 ; Allan, Lou 2 ; Falk, Aidan 1 ; Uden, Madison 2 ; Hoogenraad, Haley 1 ; Alexander, Katie 2
SH: Hoogenraad, Haley 1
SF: Hoogenraad, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Canfield, Faith 1 ; Peters, Natalie 2 ; Gonzalez, Thais 1 ; Allan, Lou 1 ; Wald, Nikki 1 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Falk, Aidan 2 ; Uden, Madison 3 ; Alexander, Katie 1 ; Rodriguez, Natalia 1
SB: Peters, Natalie 1
HBP: Blanco, Tera 1 ; Wald, Nikki 1 ; Falk, Aidan 1
Batting:
2B: Grieco 1
RBI: Grieco 2
SH: Legg 1 ; Arrizurieta 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Legg 1 ; Wagner 1
HBP: Elling 1
