Michigan Splits One-Run Decisions to Wrap Spring-Break Swing

Friday, March 6

Los Angeles, Calif.

12:30 PM PT

Michigan

15-7

Boston University

12-5

Boston University

Michigan

Julia Jimenez (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Splits One-Run Decisions to Wrap Spring-Break Swing

3/6/2020 9:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 16 Michigan defeated Boston University, 2-1, before falling to No. 22 UCF, 3-2, in eight innings to wrap play at the UCLA/LBSU Invitational and conclude its annual spring-break trip.
» U-M rallied then took a lead in the eighth inning against UCF, which responded with two runs in the bottom half, including the game-winning tally off a two-out wild pitch.
» RHP Alex Storako earned both decisions in the circle, totaling three runs -- one earned -- and four hits allowed with 21 strikeouts over 11.1 innings on the day.

Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (Easton Stadium)
Event: UCLA/LBSU Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
Score: #16 Michigan 2, Boston University 1; #22 UCF 3, #16 Michigan 2 (8 inn.)
Records: U-M (15-8), BU (12-5), UCF (17-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 14 -- vs. Ball State (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan softball team split a pair of one-run games to close out its annual spring-break trip, hanging on to defeat Boston University, 2-1, before falling in an extra-inning contest to No. 22 UCF, 3-2, in the eighth on Friday afternoon (March 6) at UCLA's Easton Stadium.

The Wolverines rallied from an initial deficit against UCF and, with the international tiebreaker in play in extra innings, used an RBI single to take their first lead in the top of the eighth. UCF responded in the home half, tying the game off a comeback single to the circle before plating the winning run on a two-out wild pitch.

UCF also scored first in the contest with a solo home run in the third inning, but senior center fielder Haley Hoogenraad responded in kind two innings later, with her own solo homer to right field -- her first long ball of the season. Freshman shortstop Julia Jimenez drove in the Wolverines' run in the eighth. Michigan posted just three hits in the contest but chased UCF ace Breanna Vasquez, who ranks among the nation's ERA leaders (0.34), from the game in the fifth.

Sophomore left fielder Lexie Blair went 2-for-3 to pace the Wolverine offense against Boston University. She doubled in the first inning and scored when senior designated player Abby Skvarce followed with her own double to left-center two batters later. Michigan added another run off a Hoogenraad RBI groundout in the fourth.

The Terriers cut the deficit with an RBI single in the sixth. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Storako, who started the game, reentered with a runner on and one out in the seventh and issued back-to-back strikeouts to close the game. Storako earned both decisions on the day, totaling three runs -- one earned -- and four hits allowed with 21 strikeouts over 11.1 innings pitched.

Michigan (15-8) will kick off the home portion of its 2020 schedule with a three-game series against Ball State next weekend at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The series kicks off with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday (March 14) and wraps up with a 1 p.m. slate on Sunday (March 15). Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.