Michigan
33-11, 15-1
Illinois
27-17, 6-9
Wolverines Knock Out Six Home Runs to Complete Sweep of Illinois
4/21/2019 6:50:00 PM | Softball
» Michigan battled early and pulled away late, scoring seven runs in the seventh to earn a 16-5 win and complete the weekend series sweep against Illinois.
» U-M posted a season-best 17 hits, including six home runs from six different players; Lexie Blair headlined the Wolverine offense with four hits, four runs and four RBI.
» Meghan Beaubien shook off a sluggish first inning to keep Illinois in check, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
Site: Champaign, Ill. (Eichelberger Field)
Scores: #22 Michigan 16, Illinois 5
Records: U-M (33-11, 15-1 Big Ten), Illinois (27-17, 6-9 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, April 23 -- vs. Michigan State (Wilpon Complex), 7 p.m.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan softball team battled early and pulled away late, plating five runs in the first inning and seven in the seventh, to beat Illinois, 16-5, and complete the weekend series sweep on Sunday (April 21) at the Fighting Illini's Eichelberger Field.
The Wolverines pounded out a season-high 17 hits, including six home runs from six different players and twice back-to-back. Freshman left fielder Lexie Blair went 4-for-4 with a walk, four runs and four RBI and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Senior center fielder Natalie Peters posted three hits and three runs, while senior designated player Mackenzie Nemitz snapped out of a weekend slump with two hits and three RBI.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (21-4) allowed five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and two walks and struck out six. The bulk of Illinois' runs came on a three-run homer in the first -- just one pitch after a comebacker drilled Beaubien in the leg. Michigan allowed just one run and three more hits over the rest of the game.
Michigan opened the game with three consecutive hits -- on just six pitches -- including Blair's two-run double down the right-field line. Nemitz and junior right fielder Haley Hoogenraad extended the inning with back-to-back home runs with two outs. The Wolverines went back-to-back again with two outs in the fourth with Blair and Sobczak -- it was Sobczak's team-best ninth homer of the season.
Up by just one after the third, Michigan scored 10 unanswered runs to pull away, including a seven-spot in the top of the seventh inning. Senior catcher Katie Alexander led off the seventh with solo home run to left field, matching Sobczak with her ninth of the season, and Canfield followed two batters later with a two-run shot down the left-field line.
Michigan manufactured four more runs with bases loaded, including an RBI single from Nemitz, as Illinois made its fourth and fifth pitching changes of the game.
Freshman right-hander Alex Storako entered to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh and retired the Illini in order with a pair of strikeouts.
Michigan (33-11, 15-1 Big Ten) will kick off a four-game homestand on Tuesday (April 23) when it hosts in-state rival Michigan State for the second half of its home-and-home series at 7 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. Tickets are already sold out, and the game will be broadcast live on FS1.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Beaubien, Meghan (21-4)
L: Sydney Sickels (17-10)
Batting:
2B: Canfield, Faith 1 ; Blair, Lexie 1
HR: Canfield, Faith 1 ; Blair, Lexie 1 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Nemitz, Mackenzie 1 ; Hoogenraad, Haley 1 ; Alexander, Katie 1
RBI: Canfield, Faith 2 ; Blair, Lexie 4 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Uden, Madison 1 ; Nemitz, Mackenzie 3 ; Hoogenraad, Haley 2 ; Alexander, Katie 1 ; Skvarce, Abby 1 ; Rodriguez, Natalia 1
SF: Rodriguez, Natalia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Canfield, Faith 2 ; Peters, Natalie 3 ; Blair, Lexie 4 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Gonzalez, Thais 1 ; Uden, Madison 1 ; Nemitz, Mackenzie 1 ; Hoogenraad, Haley 1 ; Alexander, Katie 1 ; Rodriguez, Natalia 1
SB: Peters, Natalie 1
CS: Peters, Natalie 1
HBP: Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Uden, Madison 1 ; Nemitz, Mackenzie 1 ; Skvarce, Abby 1
Batting:
2B: Carly Thomas 1
HR: Veronica Ruelius 1
RBI: Bella Loya 1 ; Veronica Ruelius 3
SH: Avrey Steiner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Annie Fleming 1 ; Kiana Sherlund 1 ; Carly Thomas 1 ; Bella Loya 1 ; Veronica Ruelius 1
