Late-Inning Surges Propel Wolverines to Opening-Day Wins

Friday, February 7

Tampa, Fla.

11:45 AM

Michigan

1-0

Georgia State

0-2

GEORGIA STATE

MICHIGAN

Julia Jimenez (Michigan Photography)

Late-Inning Surges Propel Wolverines to Opening-Day Wins

2/7/2020 7:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan defeated Georgia State, 6-1, and Illinois State, 5-4, at the annual USF-Rawlings Invitational in their first games of the 2020 season.
» RHP Alex Storako posted a career-best 16 strikeouts en route to the win against GSU and tacked on six more in relief for the save against ISU.
» Julia Jimenez posted two clutch wins -- the first of her collegiate career -- including a game-winning fifth-inning RBI double against the Redbirds.

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF-Rawlings Invitational (Day 1 of 3)
Score: #17 Michigan 6, Georgia State 1; #17 Michigan 5, Illinois State 4
Records: U-M (2-0), GSU (0-2), ISU (1-1)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 8 -- vs. No. 7 Florida (Tampa, Fla), 1:45 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team used late-inning surges to earn a pair of opening-day wins, defeating Georgia State, 6-1, and Illinois State, 4-3, at the annual USF-Rawlings Invitational on Friday afternoon (Feb. 7) at USF Stadium.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Storako (1-0) posted a win and a save on the day, posting a career-best 16 strikeouts while allowing five hits and two walks against Georgia State. She fanned six more through two hitless innings in relief against ISU. Junior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (1-0) got the win against the Redbirds, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on four hits and five walks with nine strikeouts.

Freshman second baseman Julia Jimenez tallied hits in both contests and drove in the game-winning run with a fifth-inning double against Illinois State. She went 2-for-6 with two runs and two RBI in her first collegiate games. Junior first baseman Lou Allan starred in the opener with two hits, two runs and two RBI -- both off a sixth-inning shot. Senior center fielder Haley Hoogenraad and sophomore utility Morgan Overaitis posted three hits apiece on the day.

The Wolverines scored early and late against Georgia State, building a two-run lead over the first two innings before breaking it open with a four-spot in the sixth. With U-M holding a narrow 2-1 lead, Jimenez and Hoogenraad led off the sixth with back-to-back doubles. Senior Abby Skvarce drove in another on a pinch-hit single before Allan tallied the first Wolverine long ball of the season on a two-out, two-run opposite-field shot to left.

Storako gave up one run on a leadoff solo homer in the fourth, got out of a jam in the fifth and did not allowing another hit, striking out each of the final six batters to slam the door on the Panthers. Storako's previous career high for strikeouts was 15, which she recorded last season in relief against Michigan State.

The Wolverine hurler also struck out the side in the sixth and seventh frames after entering in relief against Illinois State, though the Redbirds threatened with two runners off walks in the sixth. Storako issued back-to-back punchouts on seven pitches to end the threat.

Michigan built a 4-1 lead early against Illinois State but saw it slip away after miscues contributed to a three-run third inning for the Redbirds, who homered to lead off the inning and took advantage of walks and a fielding error to plate two more and even the score.

Jimenez came through with the clutch hit in the fifth after two walks -- and a pitching change -- put a runner in scoring position with one out. She roped an RBI double to the left-center field gap to score fellow freshman and pinch-runner Audrey LeClair from second base for the game-winning run.

The Wolverines (2-0) will continue play at the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a pair of games tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 8), taking on No. 7 Florida at 1:45 p.m. before facing host South Florida at 4:15 p.m. at USF Softball Stadium.