Dennis, Allan Produce Key Hits in Nightcap as Wolverines Sweep Wildcats

Saturday, April 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

22-5, 22-5

Northwestern

22-8, 22-8

Northwestern

Michigan

Lou Allan (Michigan Photography)

Dennis, Allan Produce Key Hits in Nightcap as Wolverines Sweep Wildcats

4/24/2021 8:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 20 Michigan bounced back from its loss in the series opener to beat Northwestern, 7-2 and 6-3, in the Saturday doubleheader.
» Lou Allan knocked out a three-run, walk-off homer to complete U-M's come-from-behind win in the nightcap after Chandler Dennis posted a pinch-hit two-run double in the sixth to tie the game.
» Alex Storako and Meghan Beaubien combined for 16 strikeouts and nine hits allowed on the day.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #20 Michigan 7, Northwestern 2; #20 Michigan 6, Northwestern 3
Records: U-M (23-5, 23-5 Big Ten), NU (22-9, 22-9 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 25 -- vs. Northwestern (Wilpon Complex), Noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior first baseman Lou Allan knocked out a three-run walk-off home run to put an exclamation point on the No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 7-2, 6-3 doubleheader sweep against Northwestern on Saturday (April 24) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

Allan's home run -- her team-best seventh of the season -- completed U-M's come-from-behind victory. Down 3-1 after the third, U-M scored two in the sixth inning and three in the seventh for the win.

Sophomore outfielder Lexi Voss and junior outfielder Lexie Blair led off the seventh with back-to-back singles before Allan smacked a no-doubter beyond the left-field wall. Allan went 3-for-4 in the nightcap -- a triple shy of the cycle -- and boasted four runs batted in.

Sophomore Chandler Dennis also played hero from the plate, entering the game as a pinch hitter with two runners on and two outs in the sixth and slicing a first-pitch two-run double down the right-field line to tie the game. It was her first collegiate hit.

Northwestern scored first off an RBI double in the first inning, but Michigan immediately got it back in the home half when Allan snuck a double of her own just fair inside the leftfield line. The Wildcats retook the lead with a two-run homer in the third inning, making the score 3-1, where it stood until U-M's two-out rally in the sixth.

Senior LHP Meghan Beaubien (9-3) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk and struck out nine.

Michigan also rallied in the day's opening game. After Northwestern took a 2-1 lead on a two-run homer in the top of the fourth, the Wolverines got it back and then some in the bottom half of the frame. U-M used back-to-back two-out singles and a walk to load the bases for Blair, whose bouncing ground ball got by the Wildcat shortstop and through the left-center gap to score everyone. Initially scored as an inside-the-park grand slam, it was changed to a four-base error on the Northwestern shortstop.

Blair and senior shortstop Natalia Rodriguez used back-to-back RBI doubles to drive in two more runs in the sixth.

Junior RHP Alex Storako (14-2) picked up her 11th straight win in the first slate, striking out seven while allowing two runs on three hits and three walks.

Michigan (23-5, 23-5 Big Ten) will look to complete the series win against Northwestern at noon tomorrow (Sunday, April 25) at Alumni Field. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.