Michigan's Offense Surges in Run-Rule Wins Over PSU

Saturday, May 1

State College, Pa.

1:00 PM

Michigan

26-5, 0

Penn State

5-24, 0

Michigan

Penn State

Lou Allan (Michigan Photography)

5/1/2021 7:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 19 Michigan matched its season-high 15 hits in both games to earn two six-inning wins, 10-0 and 12-2, against Penn State.
» Lou Allan and Taylor Bump combined for nine hits, eight runs and eight RBI; Bump knocked out a home run in each game.
» Alex Storako struck out 11 through five hitless innings in the first game.

Site: State College, Pa. (Beard Field)
Scores: #19 Michigan 10, Penn State 0 (6 inn.); #19 Michigan 12, Penn State 2 (6 inn.)
Records: U-M (27-5, 27-5 B1G), PSU (5-25, 5-25 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 2 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), Noon

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored in several big bursts and twice matched its season high in hits to take both sides of a doubleheader against Penn State, 10-0 and 12-2, in six innings apiece on Saturday (May 1) at the Nittany Lions' Beard Field.

The Wolverines posted 15 hits in each contest and 22 total runs in the twinbill, including a season-high 12 in the nightcap. Seniors Lou Allan and Taylor Bump again headlined Michigan's offense, combining for nine hits, eight runs and eight RBI from the No. 3 and No. 4 slots in the order. Bump knocked out a homer in each game, improving her recent tear to nine long balls over the last 13 games.

Junior RHP Alex Storako (16-2) and senior LHP Meghan Beaubien (11-3) were both outstanding from the circle. One the nation's top strikeout pitchers, Storako fanned 11 Nittany Lions over five hitless innings in the day's first game, while Beaubien struck out seven and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk.

Allan and Bump teamed up to put Michigan (27-5, 27-5 Big Ten) up early in the nightcap, posting a two-run double and two-run homer in consecutive at-bats in the first inning. Bump knocked out a no-doubter to right field for her second home run of the day.

After adding single runs in the second and fifth, the Wolverines broke it open with a six-spot -- all with two outs -- in the top of the sixth. Allan and Bump drew walks to lead off the inning, and both scored when sophomore Julia Jimenez drilled a triple -- the first of her collegiate career -- off the center-field wall. She scored when sophomore Lexi Voss singled in the next at-bat, and, after another single, junior Lexie Blair pushed the margin into run-rule territory with a three-run shot to right field -- her fifth homer of the season.

Michigan also blew open the first game with a big sixth inning. The Wolverines took an early lead on a leadoff solo homer from Bump in the second inning, added two runs apiece in the fourth and fifth and gained their run-rule margin with a five-run sixth -- again all with two outs. Allan snuck a two-run double down the left-field line before Bump dropped a fly ball into left after the PSU left fielder appeared lose it in the sun to plate two more. Sophomore catcher Jessica Garmen wrapped U-M's scoring with an RBI single to left in her first collegiate plate appearance.

Michigan will wrap its four-game series at Penn State (5-25, 5-25 Big Ten) with a noon slate Sunday (May 2) at Beard Field. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.