Wolverines to Travel to Michigan State to Wrap Home-and-Home Series

THIS WEEK
Tuesday, April 19 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 6 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Video | Live Stats

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• Complete Notes (PDF)

The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team (26-13, 6-6 Big Ten) will conclude its annual home-and-home series against in-state rival Michigan (21-23, 1-12 Big Ten) with a 6 p.m. slate on Tuesday (April 19) at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The game will be broadcasted live on Big Ten Network.

• Michigan claimed its opener against MSU, 6-1, on April 6 in Ann Arbor. Graduate student Melina Livingston went 2-for-2 with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the fifth, while fifth-year senior Taylor Bump opened scoring with a two-run double in the first frame. Senior RHP Alex Storako struck out 12 Spartans while allowing one run on just three hits and a pair of walks.

• Livingston has been the Wolverines' hottest hitter of late, boasting a .419 average (13-for-31) with six extra-base hits, 13 runs scored and 14 RBI over the last 10 games -- a stretch that coincides with her taking over starting second baseman duties. She boasted the game-ending three-run homer in the opener against PSU (April 8) and scored both runs, including the game-winner, in U-M's 2-1 decision against PSU (April 9). She also scored the game-winning run on an eighth-inning squeeze bunt last Friday against Maryland (April 13).

• Fifth-year senior Taylor Bump has also been hot of late, posting 10 hits -- seven for extra bases -- and 12 RBI over the last 10 games. She boasted two doubles in both the Northwestern and Maryland finales and knocked out her second home run of the season to open up scoring in the fourth inning of U-M's opener against PSU. Bump led the Wolverines with 12 homers last season.

• Graduate student Kristina Burkhardt ranks third nationally with 16 doubles and eighth with a 0.41 doubles-per-game average this season and lists 13th with five triples and 21st with 0.13 triples per game. Burkhardt's five triples are the most for a Wolverine player since Catherine Davie similarly hit five in 1997. Nearly 40 percent (38.8) of Burkhardt's 54 hits have gone for extra bases. She continues to lead the Wolverines at the plate with a career-best .415 average and boasts 24 RBI. Burkhardt has recorded at least one hit in all but six games this season.

• Graduate student LHP Meghan Beaubien earned both of Michigan's wins in the Maryland series, posting a 1.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts and two hits allowed over 9.1 innings pitched. She won in relief in the second slate, tallying three strikeouts and one hit and one walk allowed over 2.1 innings, before going the distance in the finale with seven strikeouts and two runs allowed on four hits and a walk.

• Beaubien moved to sixth among the Wolverines' all-time wins leaders with the two weekend decisions. She owns a 93-26 career collegiate record from the circle and passed three-time All-American Nikki Nemitz (92, 2007-10). Beaubien needs five more wins to crack the top-five leaders; two-time All-American Jennie Ritter (98, 2003-06) currently holds the fifth spot.

• Senior RHP Alex Storako ranks fifth nationally in both total strikeouts (225) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.9). She owns 11 double-digit strikeout games, including 17 in her last home appearance against Penn State (April 10). Storako also led the nation last season with a 12.9 strikeout average, while the Michigan staff posted the nation's top team mark with a 10.76 strikeout average.

• Freshman RHP Lauren Derkowski earned her first collegiate win against Central Michigan last Tuesday (April 12), allowing a run on four hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings, freshman RHP Annabelle Widra earned her first collegiate save with one hit allowed and two strikeouts over three shutout innings. Derkowski, despite a no decision, tossed the bulk of the innings in U-M's Saturday win against Penn State, posting a career-high 5.1 innings pitched after coming in with the bases loaded and one out in the first and needing just five pitches to end the threat. She struck out six total Nittany Lions and allowed one run on three hits and no walks.

Up Next

Friday, April 22 -- vs. Ohio State (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 23 -- vs. Ohio State (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 24 -- vs. Ohio State (Wilpon Complex), Noon