Michigan
Northern Kentucky
Hutchins Back Atop Wins List After U-M Downs Northern Kentucky, No. 13 Duke
2/25/2022 10:35:00 PM | Softball
» No. 19 Michigan defeated Northern Kentucky, 3-0, and No. 13 Duke, 3-2, in its first action of the Duke Invitational.
» Head coach Carol Hutchins improved to 1,676-537-5 in 39 years as a collegiate coach to again become the winningest coach in NCAA softball history.
» RHP Alex Storako earned both wins, while LHP Meghan Beaubien contributed to the NKU shutout and earned the save against Duke. The duo combined for 18 strikeouts on the day.
Site: Durham, N.C. (Duke Softball Stadium)
Event: Duke Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Score: #19 Michigan 3, Northern Kentucky 0; #19 Michigan 3, #13 Duke 2
Records: U-M (7-4), NKU (7-5), Duke (11-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 26 -- at Duke (Durham, N.C.), 4 p.m.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Head coach Carol Hutchins once again became the winningest coach in NCAA softball history as the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan softball team defeated Northern Kentucky, 3-0, and No. 13 Duke, 3-2, to kick off its Duke Invitational -- and annual spring break trip -- Friday evening (Feb. 25) at Duke Softball Stadium.
Hutchins improved to 1,676-537-5 over her 39 years as a collegiate head coach, breaking the existing tie with fellow hall of famer Mike Candrea (1,674-436-2), who retired last spring after 36 seasons and eight NCAA titles at Arizona. Hutchins previously rose to the top spot in 2016, passing Margie Wright's record of 1,457 career wins, and held the wins record for more than two years.
Michigan broke through late in the record-breaking contest vs. NKU when senior catcher Hannah Carson knocked out a three-run homer to center field to bust it open with one out in the sixth. Senior outfielder Kristina Burkhardt, the Wolverines' offensive leader, keyed the surge with a double down the left-field line, and senior third baseman Taylor Bump looped a single over first base to put two aboard for Carson, who blasted her first long ball of the season and fifth of her career.
Senior RHP Alex Storako earned the NKU win in relief, entering with the go-ahead run on third and one out in the top of the sixth and striking out five of six batters she faced. She combined with graduate student LHP Meghan Beaubien for 12 total strikeouts and the shutout; Beaubien allowed just two hits through 5.1 innings.
Michigan's co-aces teamed up again in the nightcap. Storako (6-0) scattered nine hits and four walks to largely hold a potent Duke lineup at bay, while Beaubien entered in the bottom of the seventh with no outs and the potential tying and winning runs aboard and recorded the final three outs to earn her first save of the season.
The Wolverines carried their late-game offensive momentum from the first slate into the second, plating two runs in the top of the first against Duke. Senior outfielder Lexie Blair led off with a single and eventually came around to score on junior first baseman Lauren Esman's foul sacrifice fly to left field before Carson roped a double to right to drive in another -- her fourth RBI on the day.
Sophomore second baseman Sierra Kersten belted her first collegiate home run -- a solo no-doubter to right-center -- to add insurance with two outs in the fourth.
Duke used a walk and a throwing error to manufacture its first run in the bottom of the fourth and threatened more, but freshman outfielder Ellie Sieler made the defensive play of the game to end the inning, fielding a ground-ball single through the right side and gunning down a Blue Devil baserunner attempting to take third.
The Blue Devils led off the seventh with three consecutive singles to plate a run and pull within one. Beaubien entered with runners on first and second and handled the final three outs herself, fanning back-to-back Duke batters before fielding a slow dribbler to the right of the circle and making the flip to first to end the game.
The Wolverines (7-4) will wrap up the Duke Invitational against the same two teams tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 26), taking on the Blue Devils at 4 p.m. and NKU at 7 p.m. at Duke Softball Stadium. The Duke game will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Tweets of the Game
Hutch has the record! ??
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) February 25, 2022
Congratulations to @UMCoachHutch on winning her NCAA Record 1,675th career victory!#NCAASoftball x ?? @umichsoftball pic.twitter.com/fFp0TW8LSQ
At Duke Softball Stadium, @UMCoachHutch became the winningest coach with 1,675 wins.
— Duke Softball (@DukeSOFTBALL) February 25, 2022
She did this on the turf built by former player and our Head Coach @DukeCoachYoung. ?? pic.twitter.com/M2ZR1oNehK
