Wolverines Welcome Rutgers for Three-Game Weekend Series

Friday, April 13

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

Rutgers

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Wolverines Welcome Rutgers for Three-Game Weekend Series

4/12/2018 12:48:00 PM | Softball

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan will host Rutgers for a three-game weekend series at Alumni Field, kicking off with a 6 p.m. slate on Friday (April 13).
» Michigan has won 27 of its last 28 games, hitting .348 with 6.6 runs per game and a 0.96 ERA over the stretch, and has claimed each of its last nine.
» Faith Canfield and Haley Hoogenraad have batted .500 or better at Alumni Field this season, while U-M has combined for a 0.16 ERA through eight home games.

• Complete Game Notes
• Weather Alters Weekend Rutgers Series Schedule

The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team (33-7, 8-1 Big Ten) will host Rutgers (17-19, 2-5 Big Ten) for a three-game series at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The series kicks off with a Friday (April 13) doubleheader, with the first game scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and the nightcap slated for 6 p.m. The series will wrap up with an ESPNU-televised game at noon on Sunday (April 15).

• U-M is 7-0 in home games this season after its midweek wins against Eastern Michigan and Michigan State. The Wolverines have outscored their home opposition, 46-1. Michigan posted a 17-0 record at Alumni Field during the regular season in 2017 but fell in their last appearance, a 5-4 upset loss to Michigan State in their Big Ten Tournament opener. U-M is 555-134-1 all-time at Alumni Field.

• After going 6-6 through its first 12 games of the season, Michigan has since won 27 of its last 28 games and each of its last nine. U-M batted .225, averaged 2.9 runs per game and combined for a 1.24 earned-run average over the first 12 games. Over the last 28 games, the Wolverines have posted a .348 batting average, scored 6.6 runs per game and posted a 0.96 team ERA.

• Freshman left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien leads the nation with 24 wins -- four more than Washington's Taran Alvelo, Arizona's Taylor McQuillin and Central Florida's Alea White in second place -- and became the sixth freshman pitcher in program history to hit the 20-win milestone, doing so in just 28 total appearances.

• Beaubien also ranks top 15 nationally in several other categories, including ERA (0.79, 13th), hits allowed per game (2.90, 5th), shutouts (eight, eighth) and strikeouts (176, 14th). She leads the Big Ten in every category.

• Beaubien threw a two-hit shutout in Wednesday's (April 11) 1-0 win against in-state rival Michigan State. The Wolverine rookie owns eight complete-game shutouts and has combined for seven more. U-M boasts 20 total shutout wins this season.

• Senior RHP/first baseman Tera Blanco tossed her first collegiate no-hitter in U-M's 4-0 win against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday (April 10), posting a season-best 12 strikeouts -- just one off her career best -- while allowing three EMU baserunners on a pair of walks and a fielding error. Her no-hitter is Michigan's fifth this season, a single-season program record. Blanco previously combined with former Wolverine Megan Betsa for a five-inning no-hitter last season at Rutgers.

• Freshman Lou Allan was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after batting .429 (3-for-7) with a double, two home runs and four RBI in Michigan's weekend sweep at Penn State (April 6-8). Allan registered her first collegiate home run in the series opener and followed with another in the second slate, knocking out a two-run homer with the game scoreless in the seventh inning. After missing the first 16 games of the season with injury, Allan has started each of the last 13 at designated player.

• Junior catcher Katie Alexander headlined the Wolverines' offensive effort over the Penn State series last weekend, .667 (6-for-9) with two doubles and two RBI. She matched a career best with three hits in the series opener and posted two hits with two runs scored in the finale.

• Junior second baseman Faith Canfield saw her career-best 17-game hit streak end in the second game of the Penn State series. Canfield batted .500 over the stretch with 10 multi-hit games, 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBI. She began anew with two hits and four RBI in the PSU series finale. Canfield is no stranger to lengthy hitting streaks; she ended last season on a 10-game tear.

• Senior RHP/first baseman Tera Blanco has also been hot of late and boasted a 16-game hit streak of her own from March 1-23, hitting .364 over the stretch with four home runs and 18 RBI. She has hit successfully in 23 of the last 25 games.

• Sophomore outfielder Haley Hoogenraad has been especially hot at home this season, ranking second with a .500 batting average through seven games at Alumni Field. Canfield leads the team with a .524 average at home, while Blanco has batted .474 with 12 RBI. As a team, Michigan is hitting .358 at home this season, while its pitching staff has combined for a miniscule 0.16 ERA.

• The Wolverines have committed just two errors over its last 23 games. Michigan ranks second nationally with a team .989 fielding percentage -- just .001 behind Oklahoma. Four U-M starters own 1.000 fielding percentages, including Canfield and Blanco. Last season, Michigan also ranked second in the nation with a .981 fielding percentage, while six Michigan starters boasted fielding percentages of .970 or better.