Wolverine Rally Falls Short in NCAA Regional Loss to Notre Dame

Friday, May 18

Lexington, Ky.

Noon

Michigan

43-12

Notre Dame

33-21

Notre Dame

Michigan

Wolverine Rally Falls Short in NCAA Regional Loss to Notre Dame

5/18/2018 6:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan scored in the bottom of the seventh but fell to Notre Dame, 4-1, in its NCAA Regional opener.
» U-M struggled from the plate, tying a season-low three hits while leaving eight runners on base.
» LHP Meghan Beaubien took the loss, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and three walks.

Site: Lexington, Ky. (John Cropp Stadium)
Event: NCAA Regional (Day 1 of 3)
Score: Notre Dame 4, #17 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (43-12), UND (33-21)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 19 -- vs. Kentucky or UIC - NCAA Regional (Lexington, Ky.), 12:30 p.m.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team struggled to get its offense going in a 4-1 loss to Notre Dame in its NCAA Regional opener on Friday afternoon (May 18) at Kentucky's John Cropp Stadium. The Wolverines rallied with a run in the seventh before falling short.

Michigan now moves to the elimination bracket and will need to win two straight games to extend its season. The Wolverines will first face the loser of the Kentucky-UIC contest at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 19) and, with a win, then face the loser of the noon winner's-bracket game at noon on Sunday (May 20).

Notre Dame led from the first inning after scoring on an unearned sacrifice fly in its first turn at the plate. The Fighting Irish leadoff batter reached on a muffed throw at first base, advanced on a single and sac bunt and scored on a fly ball to right field.

The Wolverines had little response from the plate, matching a season-low three hits but were not without baserunners with six walks and three stolen bases. Michigan left eight stranded, including four in scoring position.

Michigan appeared to generate some momentum with a leadoff walk after a two-hour rain delay in the bottom of the fifth inning, but had back-to-back batters called out of the box to stymie the rally.

Notre Dame broke the game open with three runs in the top of the seventh -- on four consecutive hits with two outs -- and chase freshman left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien from the game. Beaubien (32-5) finished with four runs allowed -- three earned -- on six hits and three walks through 6.2 innings. It was her first time this season with back-to-back losses.

U-M plated a two-out run of run of its own in the home half of the seventh, drawing a leadoff walk before junior center fielder Natalie Peters drove in the run on a double down the right-field line. Senior first baseman Tera Blanco followed with another walk, but a fielder's choice and close play at second ended the contest.