U-M Caps Perfect Opening Weekend with Ninth-Inning Walk-Off over Fresno State

Sunday, February 9

Tampa, Fla.

9:00 AM

Michigan

5-0

Fresno State

3-2

FRESNO STATE

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

U-M Caps Perfect Opening Weekend with Ninth-Inning Walk-Off over Fresno State

2/9/2020 12:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan earned a 1-0 walk-off in the ninth inning against Fresno State -- its second straight extra-inning win -- to cap a perfect 5-0 weekend at the USF-Rawlings Invitational.
» Haley Hoogenraad drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single to the right-center gap; she posted a stout .429 weekend average at the plate.
» Alex Storako and Meghan Beaubien combined for a two-hit shutout; Beaubien won in relief with four strikeouts and just one hit and one walk allowed over three innings.

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF-Rawlings Invitational (Day 3 of 3)
Score: #17 Michigan 1, Fresno State 0 (9 inn.)
Records: U-M (5-0), FSU (3-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 14 -- vs. Louisville - ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Chapel Hill, N.C.), 11 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team capped a perfect opening weekend with its second straight extra-inning decision, using an RBI single to walk off against Fresno State, 1-0, in the ninth inning on Sunday morning (Feb. 9) at USF Softball Stadium.

Senior center fielder Haley Hoogenraad played the hero in extras with the game-winning base hit to the right-center field gap, scoring freshman pinch-runner Lauren Esman -- who was placed on second via the international tiebreaker and advanced on a sacrifice bunt -- scored easily from third base. It put an exclamation point on a stellar weekend for Hoogenraad, who batted .429 with four doubles -- her hit today would have been a fifth two-bagger had it not ended the game -- and three RBI.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Storako and junior LHP Meghan Beaubien were outstanding en route to the combined two-hit shutout from the circle. Beaubien (3-0) earned the win in relief, striking out four while allowing one hit and one walk over three innings. Storako fanned nine and allowed one hit and four walks through six.

Michigan (5-0) used a walk and a dropped third-strike to load the bases and threaten in the eighth but could not capitalize. The Bulldogs (3-2) similarly left two stranded in scoring position in both the eighth and the ninth frames. Junior first baseman Lou Allan snagged a hot-shot liner to end the threat in the former, while Beaubien earned a huge swinging strikeout to get out of the jam in the latter.

The Wolverines went 5-0 on the weekend for its best start since 2011.

Michigan (5-0) will return to the road next weekend, heading to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolverines will play two games apiece against Louisville and host North Carolina, kicking off the weekend with a 1:30 p.m. slate against the Cardinals on Friday (Feb. 15) at the Tar Heels' Anderson Stadium.