Kornacki: Rebuilt Wolverines on Quest to New Goal After Winning Big Ten
5/7/2018 11:03:00 AM | Softball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was a season when plenty of lineup changes had to be addressed. The University of Michigan softball team had to replace half of its starters and find out if Meghan Beaubien could replace Megan Betsa as the ace of the pitching staff.
So, there were plenty of question marks.
But when the regular season came to a close this past weekend, it could be marked down as a success. The No. 14 Wolverines (43-10, 18-3 Big Ten) clinched the conference championship Saturday (May 5) with Beaubien's 32nd win of the season, which also set a program record for regular-season victories by a pitcher.
Coach Carol Hutchins was definitely pleased by her team winning the title after coming in second last year to break a streak of nine consecutive championships. But she also wanted to make it clear there was more to chase.
"We think that's a great accomplishment," Hutchins said. "It's not the most important accomplishment."
The No. 1 goal is returning to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City -- where Michigan played twice in the last three seasons and finished as national runner-up in 2015.
"I spoke a little bit before Sunday's game if we were going to settle," Hutchins continued. "I'd like to see us hungry to get back to the World Series. We didn't look like we had any hunger tonight."
The Wolverines won both Beaubien starts in taking two of three games from Ohio State, but they lost the series finale Sunday night. However, it was enough for Michigan to claim the outright conference championship.
"It means a lot," said junior second baseman and tri-captain Faith Canfield. "I know last year we were definitely disappointed, and we took that to heart. We changed a lot of things. We put a lot into our culture this year and tried changing a couple things. To see that payoff is amazing, but we reached that goal yesterday, and that goal ended yesterday.
"And now we're on a new quest to a new goal. So, it's amazing, but you've got to let go and move on to the next thing."
Canfield (left) has a team-best .404 batting average, while Beaubien leads the NCAA with 32 wins.
Michigan now moves on to the conference tournament at Wisconsin, where it will play Friday (May 11) against the winner of Michigan State and Nebraska. The Wolverines will be going after their first championship in that event since 2015, and they will move from there to an NCAA Regional site and opponent to be determined.
Hutchins said Beaubien is fully able to pitch in three consecutive games, and that will be key in tournament play.
Beaubien is 32-3 with a 0.90 earned run average, easily leading the nation in victories while topping the Big Ten in every pitching category. She has struck out 245 in 191.1 innings. Only three Michigan pitchers have won more including postseason play, and Jennie Ritter's 38 wins in the 2005 national championship season is the record.
"We knew Meghan was a special kid," said Hutchins. "I'd been watching her for years. When she came here in the fall you could tell that she came here to do something her freshman year. Whether it was to win the most games in the NCAA, I don't think anyone thinks like that. I don't think she thinks like that. But she came here to help us win, and she knew she was going to be a valuable part. She expected that of herself.
"And that's a great quality in a freshman -- to come in and expect to be able to compete and expect to be an integral part. She's been more than integral, obviously. She's got that alpha quality. She believes in herself, but Meghan has a tremendous work ethic. She's an open cup and has that growth mindset. She wants to be great. I'm certain Meghan Beaubien wants to be as great as her favorite pitcher, Monica Abbott."
Abbott, who pitched at Tennessee and also is a lefthander, set NCAA records for wins, shutouts and strikeouts. She also became the first to hurl a perfect game in the Olympics and signed a million-dollar contract over six seasons in the National Pro Fastpitch league two years ago.
"So, she sets her sights really high," Hutchins said of Beaubien. "But then she puts in the work to get there. It's a great combination."
Beaubien has come through, but so have others. Hutchins didn't know whether or not sophomore outfielder Haley Hoogenraad would hit enough, but she has batted .315 and is tied for fifth on the team with 23 RBI. The shortstop position was wide open, but freshman Natalia Rodriguez has played superb defense while batting .260 and scoring 27 runs.
"Look what they've done," said Hutchins. "Haley has been one of the most consistent players in my lineup. She just tried to keep her head above water, just tried to do her part. She didn't like not hitting. And so I think that gives her a clearer mind and a better approach.
"She had a rough night (Sunday with two errors). (But) Natalia's been outstanding. So, I just hope this doesn't shake her confidence."
Hoogenraad (left) and Rodriguez have played key roles for the Wolverines as first-year starters.
The offense has three batters ranking in the top three in batting average and RBI in first baseman/pitcher Tera Blanco, Canfield and third baseman Madison Uden. And while others such as catcher Katie Alexander, center fielder Natalie Peters, outfielder/first baseman Aidan Falk and Hoogenraad have contributed, there hasn't been enough constancy to the hitting.
"If anything," said Hutchins, "I just have to find a way to get our sticks going. Our sticks are underachieving, and we need to bring our practice swings to the game. We need to load up and yet swing easy and swing free."
If Beaubien can continue coming up big and the "sticks" produce enough to back her, Michigan is capable of accomplishing big things. I asked Canfield, who became a starter as a freshman on a World Series team, what it will take to reach Oklahoma City.
"It's going to take a lot to get back," she said. "We're going to have to fight much better than we did tonight, and there is so much that goes into it. Everyone doing their role is what's going to get us there, and you've got to move on.
"The World Series is the end goal. It's everyone's ultimate goal. I mean, that's the dream. That's what you play for. We've got to do what we can to get there and keep fighting."
