Home Runs Highlight Doubleheader Split at OSU

Saturday, April 10

Columbus, Ohio

Noon

Michigan

15-3, 0

Ohio State

12-9, 0

Michigan

Ohio State

Hannah Carson (Michigan Photography)

4/10/2021 5:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 23 Michigan earned a 3-1 win before Ohio State used a fifth-inning rally to claim the nightcap, 3-2, and force a doubleheader split in Columbus.
» Lou Allan and Julia Jimenez knocked out back-to-back homers in the sixth inning in the opener; Allan boasts two home runs in the weekend series.
» Alex Storako earned the game-one win, fanning 11 while allowing one run on two hits and two walks.

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Buckeye Field)
Scores: #23 Michigan 3, Ohio State 1; Ohio State 3, #23 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (15-4, 15-4 B1G), OSU (13-9, 13-9 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 11 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a late-inning surge, including back-to-back homers in the sixth, to earn a 3-1 win against Ohio State in the first half of a Saturday doubleheader (April 10) at Buckeye Field. The Wolverines dropped the nightcap, 3-2, after a late OSU rally.

Senior first baseman Lou Allan and sophomore second baseman Julia Jimenez knocked out consecutive solo home runs with two outs in the sixth inning in the day's first game. It was Allan's second homer in as many games -- she posted a three-run shot in the series opener -- and it broke a scoreless tie. Jimenez replicated the feat with a similar shot over the left-field wall just five pitches later.

The Wolverines tacked on one more in the top of the seventh with another back-to-back effort, as junior center fielder Lexie Blair and senior shortstop Natalia Rodriguez roped doubles off the wall in left field. Blair, who also drew a pair of walks, extended her hit streak in her last turn of the contest. She added a third-inning single in the second slate to make it 19 games in a row with a hit.

Junior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako (9-2) struck out 11 and allowed one run on two hits, notably a two-out solo homer in the seventh, and two walks. The home run was the first allowed by Storako this season.

After boasting double-digit hits in five straight games, the Wolverines tallied just 12 total on the day, and it caught up to them in the nightcap. Three of U-M's hits came in its breakthrough fifth inning. Junior catcher Hannah Carson, who posted hits in the second game, and Jimenez registered singles to put two aboard, and with two outs, sophomore Lexi Voss capitalized with a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run single to shallow right-center.

The Michigan (15-4, 15-4 Big Ten) lead was short-lived, as the Buckeyes rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. OSU (13-9, 13-9 Big Ten) used a leadoff walk and infield single to put two on, bunted them over and, with two outs, tied the game on a two-run single to shallow right-center. A defensive miscue contributed to the go-ahead run; the run scored as U-M dropped the ball while attempting to tag out the batter in a rundown between first and second.

Senior LHP Meghan Beaubien (6-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five Buckeye batters.

The game-two loss halted U-M's win streak at nine games.

Michigan will wrap up its rivalry series against Ohio State on Sunday (April 11) with a 1 p.m. slate at Buckeye Field. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.