Canceled: U-M to Open Home Slate Against Ball State

» No. 18 Michigan will host Ball State in its home debut this weekend at the Wilpon Complex, with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday (March 14) and a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday (March 15).
» The Wolverines posted a 5-5 record over their spring-break trip in California; Lexie Blair posted a .457 batting average over the stretch, while Meghan Beaubien tallied a 1.03 earned-run average.
» Michigan is 579-138-1 at Alumni Field since 1982, including a 17-2 record last season.

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COVID-19 Update: On Thursday, March 12, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled the remainder of the winter and spring sports seasons due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In response, the University of Michigan has suspended all athletic activities, including practices, effective immediately, until further notice. Fans who purchased tickets for affected events will receive a refund. For the latest information on the situation, please visit MGoBlue.com/covid19.

The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan softball team (15-8) will kick off the home portion of its 2020 schedule with a three-game set against Ball State (18-9) this weekend at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The teams will meet for a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday (March 14) before wrapping the series with a 1 p.m. slate on Sunday (March 15). The Wolverines will also host a non-conference midweek slate against Western Michigan (5-16) at 4 p.m. next Tuesday (March 17).

• Michigan boasts a stellar 579-138-1 home record at Alumni Field since its 1982 construction. Last season, U-M went 17-2 at Alumni Field.

• The Wolverines posted a 5-5 record over their spring-break trip in California with a 1-4 mark against nationally ranked opponents, including losses to No. 1 UCLA (2-0), No. 2 Washington (10-2) and No. 3 Texas (1-0). Overall, Michigan owns a 4-5 record against ranked teams this season.

• Sophomore left fielder Lexie Blair has been on a tear of late, batting .457 (16-for-35) with seven doubles over the spring-break trip. She matched a career best with a four-hit effort against Texas Tech. Blair, who led U-M offensively with a .406 average as a rookie last season, had only hit .175 over the first 13 games of the season.

• Senior designated player Abby Skvarce also has been consistent from the plate over the spring-break swing, batting .304 with five RBI from the cleanup spot in the order. Skvarce has started a career-best 12 games this season, including nine of the 10 slates over the last week in California.

• Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Storako ranks third nationally with 141 strikeouts on the season and third with a 13.2 strikeouts-per-game average. She posted a career-best 16 strikeouts in the season opener against Georgia State (Feb. 7) -- her previous best was 15 at Michigan State last season -- and has posted five additional double-digit efforts since, including three over her last four starts with 13 apiece against No. 25 Texas Tech and Boston University and 15 against St. John's.

• Junior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien posted a sterling 1.03 earned-run average over the Wolverines' spring-break trip, allowing just five earned runs -- and seven total -- over 34 innings pitched. She carried a perfect game into the sixth inning in a 1-0 loss to No. 3 Texas and similarly held a no-hitter until the fifth inning against Colorado State, settling for a four-hit complete-game shutout. Beaubien also posted a season-high 14 strikeouts against the Rams.