Seventh-Inning Power Surge Highlights U-M Win at Ohio State

Friday, April 9

Columbus, Ohio

4:00 PM

Michigan

14-3, 0

Ohio State

12-8, 0

Michigan

Ohio State

Lou Allan (Michigan Photography)

Seventh-Inning Power Surge Highlights U-M Win at Ohio State

4/9/2021 7:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 23 Michigan earned a 7-1 win at Ohio State, plating five runs in the seventh inning, in its return to competition.
» Lexie Blair and Lou Allan knocked out home runs in the seventh as part of their two-hit efforts; Lauren Esman also posted a pair of hits.
» Meghan Beaubien fanned 12 and allowed five hits and two walks en route to her third complete-game shutout of the season.

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Buckeye Field)
Scores: #23 Michigan 7, Ohio State 0
Records: U-M (14-3, 14-3 B1G), OSU (12-8, 12-8 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 10 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), Noon

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team plated five runs -- the bulk on a pair of homers -- in the top of the seventh to surge away from rival Ohio State and secure a 7-0 shutout in its return to competition on Friday afternoon (April 9) at Buckeye Field. It was the Wolverines' first game in nearly two weeks after a COVID-19 related pause. U-M extended its win streak to eight games.

U-M boasted its fifth straight game with double-digit hits (10), including four in its seventh-inning outburst with home runs from junior center fielder Lexie Blair and senior first baseman Lou Allan. Blair, Allan and sophomore designated player Lauren Esman tallied two hits apiece on the day. Blair, who ran her hit streak to 17 games, has boasted multiple hits in each of the last six.

Senior left-handed pitchers Meghan Beaubien (6-1) earned her third complete-game shutout from the circle, allowing five hits and two walks while fanning 12 Buckeye batters -- her fifth game this season with double-digit strikeouts.

Ohio State's (12-8, 12-8 Big Ten) best scoring opportunity came in the first inning when it used a pair of free bases to load them up, but Beaubien earned a called third strike for the third out to get out of the jam. She scattered four more hits, including doubles in the second and fourth, but retired the side in order over the final two frames.

Michigan (14-3, 14-3 Big Ten) built its lead slowly, using small ball to plate a run in the first -- with senior shortstop Natalia Rodriguez scoring unearned on a fielder's choice -- and adding another in the fourth on senior third baseman Taylor Bump's RBI single down the left-field line, before breaking it wide open in the seventh.

Blair led off the inning with her fourth homer of the season -- and third leadoff homer -- on a deep ball to right-center. Four batters later, after singles from Rodriguez and Esman, Allan went yard again, knocking out three-run shot to left field for her second home run of the season. The Wolverines took advantage of a pair of OSU miscues to add one more, as sophomore second baseman Julia Jimenez got all the way to third on a bobbled fly ball in left-center then scored two pitches later on a passed ball to the backstop.

Beaubien needed just 11 pitches to retire the Buckeyes in the home half of the seventh. Fifth-year senior right fielder Haley Hoogenraad added fireworks on the final out with a diving catch in right-center field.

Michigan will continue its weekend series at Ohio State with a noon doubleheader Saturday (April 10) at Buckeye Field. Both games will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.