Blair's Eighth-Inning Walk-Off Homer Lifts U-M Over Illinois in B1G Quarters

Friday, May 10

Bloomington, Ind.

1:30 PM

Michigan

41-11

Illinois

32-23

Illinois

Michigan

Lexie Blair

Blair's Eighth-Inning Walk-Off Homer Lifts U-M Over Illinois in B1G Quarters

5/10/2019 5:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Lexie Blair knocked out a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to push U-M past Illinois, 1-0, in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
» Meghan Beaubien and Alex Storako combined for the shutout, striking out eight -- four apiece -- while allowing just four hits and a walk.
» Michigan advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals and will face Wisconsin at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 11) at Andy Mohr Field; the time was moved up due to weather concerns.

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Andy Mohr Field)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Scores: #21 Michigan 1, Illinois 0 (8 inn.)
Records: U-M (41-11), Illinois (32-23)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 11 -- vs. Wisconsin - Big Ten Tournament (Bloomington, Ind.), 9 a.m.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Freshman left fielder Lexie Blair hit a walk-off home run to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, pushing the No. 21-ranked University of Michigan softball team past Illinois, 1-0, in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon (May 10) at Indiana's Andy Mohr Field.

Blair's solo homer -- her first hit of the game and sixth long ball of the season -- cleared the right-center field fence and brought an end to an incredible pitchers' duel that kept the game scoreless for seven-and-a-half innings.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (26-4) and freshman right-hander Alex Storako were outstanding en route to the combined shutout victory against the Big Ten's best offensive team, combining for eight strikeouts -- four apiece -- while allowing just four hits and a walk through over innings.

Beaubien earned the decision in relief, entering with two on and one out in the fifth and retiring back-to-back Illini batters to end the threat -- aided by a web-gem defensive play by sophomore shortstop Natalia Rodriguez, who dove to stop a hard ground ball to the 5-6 hole and get the force at third.

Illinois put up a bigger threat in the top of the seventh, using a fielding error, a single and aggressive baserunning to put runners on the corner with just one out. Beaubien forced a groundout to third, then won an 11-pitch at-bat with a fouled popup to senior catcher Katie Alexander near the first base on-deck circle to end the inning.

The teams combined for 15 runners left on base -- eight by the Wolverines, who lined hard-hit balls into double plays to end the third and fourth innings. Senior second baseman Faith Canfield and Alexander posted two hits apiece, while senior center fielder Natalie Peters reached three times on a hit and two walks.

The walk-off win was the Wolverines' fourth this season and second that ended with a leadoff home run in the last seven games. On April 26, junior third baseman Madison Uden also knocked out a leadoff walk-off homer in the seventh inning against Penn State.

Michigan (41-11) will face Wisconsin on Saturday (May 11) in the Big Ten semifinals, now scheduled for 9 a.m. due to the threat to severe weather in the Bloomington area. The second semifinal will start 35 minutes after the completion of the first, while the championship game will begin 35 minutes after the second semifinal game. All games will be held at Andy Mohr Field.