Wolverines Blank Lehigh, New Mexico State on Day Two at ASU Invitational

Friday, March 8

Tempe, Ariz.

2:00 PM MT

Michigan

11-9

Lehigh

6-3

Michigan

Lehigh

Wolverines Blank Lehigh, New Mexico State on Day Two at ASU Invitational

3/8/2019 8:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photos: Lehigh Photos: New Mexico State

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan earned back-to-back shutout wins, blanking Lehigh, 5-0, and New Mexico State, 3-0, on the second day of competition at the ASU Invitational.
» Haley Hoogenraad used a two-run single in the second to push across the first and game-winning tallied against Lehigh; Faith Canfield went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run against NMSU.
» LHP Meghan Beaubien tossed a complete-game shutout against the Aggies in the nightcap, striking out six while allowing six hits and no walks; NMSU did not advance a base runner past second.

Site: Tempe, Ariz. (Farrington Softball Stadium)
Event: ASU Invitational (Day 2 of 3)
Scores: #25 Michigan 5, Lehigh 0; #25 Michigan 3, New Mexico State 0
Records: U-M (12-9), LU (6-3), NMSU (9-8)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 9 -- vs. South Dakota - ASU Invitational (Tempe, Ariz.), 9 a.m. MST

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan softball team posted back-to-back shutouts on its second day of competition at the ASU Invitational, blanking Lehigh, 5-0, and New Mexico State, 3-0, on Friday afternoon (March 8) at Arizona State's Farrington Softball Stadium. The Wolverines now own five shutout wins on the season -- three in their last five games.

The Wolverines pounced on Lehigh early to open the day's slate, pushing across four runs in the second inning and another in the third while freshman RHP Alex Storako and sophomore RHP Sarah Schaefer combined for the shutout.

Michigan used three base hits, a couple free bases and some small ball to manufacture its runs in the second. After a single and two walks loaded the bases with one out, junior rightfielder Haley Hoogenraad broke through with a ripped two-run single up the middle and, after a sac fly scored another, crossed the plate herself on a fruitful double steal with senior second baseman Faith Canfield.

Freshman catcher Hannah Carson drove in U-M's third-inning run with her first collegiate double. Sophomore shortstop Natalia Rodriguez beat out an infield single to third base to lead off the inning, stole second and scored when Carson skied a fly ball into right and the Mountain Hawk outfielder seemingly lost it in the sun.

Schaefer (1-0) earned her first win of the season in relief, allowing two hits and two walks through four scoreless innings. Storako, who started but did not pitch the minimum for the decision, also allowed just two hits and struck out two through the opening three frames.

The Wolverines earned their runs one at a time in the nightcap against New Mexico State. Canfield stole the show on the offensive end, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a solo home run -- in the first at-bat of the contest. The Wolverine captain connected on the 1-0 pitch and drove it deep over the leftfield wall for her first long ball of the season.

Canfield led off the third inning with a double to the right center gap and came around to score on a sac fly off the bat of freshman leftfielder Lexie Blair. It was another double that led to the Wolverines' run in the fourth. Senior first baseman Alex Sobczak walked to lead off the frame, stole second and scored when Hoogenraad flared one into centerfield.

Sophomore LHP Meghan Beaubien (6-3) went the distance against the Aggies, striking out six while giving up six runs and no walks. She did not allow a runner past second base. It was her third complete-game shutout of the season.

Michigan (12-9) will wrap up play at the ASU Invitational -- and on its 10-day spring break trip -- tomorrow (Saturday, March 9) with a 9 a.m. MST slate against South Dakota Farrington Softball Stadium.