Five Wolverines Named to NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Teams
5/20/2021 3:33:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Michigan softball team placed five players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region teams, including four on the first team, the organization announced Thursday (May 20).
Senior first baseman Lou Allan, senior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien, junior outfielder Lexie Blair and junior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako were named to the all-region first team, while senior third baseman Taylor Bump garnered second-team honors.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all student-athletes now become eligible for the 2021 NFCA Division I All-America squads. The 2021 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, June 2.
Allan, a day after earning her first All-Big Ten first team accolade, added all-region recognition after registering a .385 batting average with a .685 slugging percentage and .442 on-base percentage in regular-season play. She leads the Wolverines with 42 RBI and shares the team lead with 10 homers.
Beaubien, a 2018 NFCA first team All-American and three-time all-region first team pick, owns a 15-3 record with a 1.14 earned-run average, 186 strikeouts and a .162 batting average against. She ranks top 25 nationally in several major pitching categories, notably 14th in ERA and 20th with a 3.93 hits allowed per game average. Beaubien is also a three-time All-Big Ten first team honoree.
Blair, the 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year who previously earned all-region first team honors as a freshman (2019), leads the Wolverines with a .411 batting average and has recorded a hit in all but five games this season. She ranks among the nation's top 25 leaders with 15 doubles and boasts 24 RBI and .465 on-base percentage.
Storako, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, owns a 21-3 record with seven shutouts, with a 0.88 earned-run average, seven shutouts, 252 strikeouts and a .128 opponent batting average over the regular season. She leads the nation with a 13 strikeouts-per-game average, fifth with 2.99 hits allowed per game and sixth in ERA. She previously earned all-region second team honors in 2019.
Bump, like Allan, added all-region first team selection to her All-Big Ten selection in recognition of her breakout senior season. Bump owns a .325 batting average, 10 home runs -- sharing the Wolverine team lead -- and 28 RBI. She owns a .650 slugging percentage and .410 on-base percentage.
The Wolverines will kick off NCAA Regional play against Seattle University at 5 p.m. PDT on Friday (May 21) at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash.
