Wolverines Sweep Saturday Doubleheader to Clinch Maryland Series

Saturday, April 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

19-4, 19-4

Maryland

11-15, 11-15

Maryland

Michigan

Lauren Esman (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Sweep Saturday Doubleheader to Clinch Maryland Series

4/17/2021 8:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 22 Michigan defeated Maryland, 2-0 and 5-1, to sweep its Saturday doubleheader at Alumni Field inside the Wilpon Complex.
» Lexie Blair, Taylor Bump and Lauren Esman headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts with nine combined hits, including five for extra bases, and four runs batted in.
» Alex Storako and Meghan Beaubien both threw complete-game wins, with Storako fanning 11 in the day's first game.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #22 Michigan 2, Maryland 0; #22 Michigan 5, Maryland 1
Records: U-M (20-4, 20-4 Big Ten), UMD (11-16, 11-16 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 18 -- vs. Maryland (Wilpon Complex), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan softball team claimed both ends of its Maryland doubleheader Saturday afternoon (April 17), defeating the Terrapins, 2-0 and 5-1, at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. With the victories, U-M clinched its third straight four-game weekend series win.

After a somewhat sluggish offensive start in the first slate, the Wolverines' bats livened up in the second with nine hits, including four for extra bases. Junior outfielder Lexie Blair, who saw her 21-game hit streak come to an end last night, paced U-M with four hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 effort in the nightcap, and pair of runs batted in. Sophomore designated player Lauren Esman tallied three hits, while senior third baseman Taylor Bump posted two extra-base hits and a pair of RBI.

Junior RHP Alex Storako (12-2) and senior RHP Meghan Beaubien (8-2) each earned a complete-game win from the circle. Storako tossed her fifth complete-game shutout in the opener, striking out 11 while allowing three hits and no walks. Beaubien fanned five Terps in the nightcap and allowed one run on three hits and four walks.

Esman, Bump and Blair teamed up to produce the Wolverines' runs in the second inning of the day's first game. Esman, who went 3-for-3 in the series opener Friday night, led off the inning with a first-pitch double to left-center and scored when Bump sliced a double of her own down the right-field line two batters later. Blair plated Bump on a hard bouncing grounder that snuck past the Terrapin shortstop with two outs.

Storako gave up singles in the first and second innings before retiring 16 straight through the sixth inning. She allowed another hit to lead off the seventh, but after a flyout to right, she struck out the final two Maryland batters to record her ninth game this season with double-digit strikeouts.

The Wolverines had to rally in the second game after Maryland took the initial lead in the second inning on a first-and-third situation when the runner trying to steal second got in a rundown and U-M elected to take the out while the runner from third raced home. Bump evened the score with one swing in the third, knocking out her second homer of the series -- and third of the season -- with a solo shot into the grandstand in right.

Senior first baseman Lou Allan delivered with two on and two outs in the fifth, skipping a hard single up the middle to plate both Wolverines baserunners and give U-M its first lead of the game. Michigan added one more in the frame on an error by the first baseman off a grounder to short, while Blair tacked on another with an RBI double down the right-field line in the sixth to cushion the Wolverine lead.

Beaubien made quick work of the Terrapins in the seventh, forcing a pair of popouts and game-ending lineout to set down the side on just nine pitches.

Michigan (20-4, 20-4 Big Ten) will wrap up its weekend series with Maryland at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, April 18) at Alumni Field. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.