Wolverines Open ACC/Big Ten Challenge with Two Wins

Friday, February 14

Chapel Hill, N.C.

11:00 AM

Michigan

6-0

Louisville

1-5

Louisville

Michigan

Alex Storako (Michigan Photography)

2/14/2020 5:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 11 Michigan defeated Louisville, 6-2, and No. 25 North Carolina, 4-3, on the first day of action at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge; U-M improved to 7-0 on the season.
» RHP Alex Storako earned both wins, posting 22 strikeouts with three runs and six hits allowed through 10 innings on the day.
» Lexie Blair drove in the game-winning run on an RBI single in the top of the seventh to break a tie against UNC.

Site: Chapel Hill, N.C. (Anderson Stadium)
Event: ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Day 1 of 3)
Score: #11 Michigan 6, Louisville 2; #11 Michigan 4, #25 North Carolina 3
Records: U-M (7-0), UL (1-5), UNC (4-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 15 -- at North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.), 11 a.m.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan softball team carried its winning ways into a new tournament weekend, opening the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with wins over Louisville, 6-2, and No. 25 host North Carolina, 4-3, on Friday afternoon (Feb. 14) at the Tar Heels' Anderson Stadium. The Wolverines improved to 7-0 on the season.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Storako (4-0) earned both wins from the circle, posting 22 strikeouts and allowing three runs on six hits over 10 total innings pitched on the day. She was particularly strong in relief against Carolina; retiring 12 batters in a row over the final four innings, including a run of eight straight strikeouts, and closed out the game with a five-pitch bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore left fielder Lexie Blair drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh against North Carolina as part of a three-hit day, while senior third baseman Madison Uden and senior center fielder Haley Hoogenraad similarly recorded three hits apiece.

The Wolverines took advantage of Carolina miscues to break through and plate three runs in the top of the second. Hoogenraad and Uden singled back-to-back to open the frame before Michigan scored on a pair of fielding errors -- the latter for two runs with two outs on a bobbled grounder to first base.

North Carolina (4-3) responded with three runs of its own in the home half of the inning, including a two-run homer that chased junior LHP Meghan Beaubien from the circle.

Michigan put runners on in each of the last six frames, leaving 13 stranded, including three on third base.

The Wolverines used small ball to push across the winning run. Sophomore Hannah Carson drew a leadoff walk and her pinch-runner, freshman Lauren Esman, advanced on back-to-back bunts before scoring on a Blair infield single up the middle. The Carolina shortstop dove to keep the ball on the infield but had no play. It was Esman's second game-winning run scored in the last three games.

Michigan also built an early lead in its tournament opener against Louisville, plating two runs apiece in the second and third frames, highlighted by a two-run double from Uden to push across the game's first tallies with two outs -- Uden's first RBI of the season.

Louisville (1-5) narrowed the Wolverine lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, which forced a U-M pitching change and brought Beaubien into the game, but Carson and Hoogenraad posted back-to-back RBI singles in the home half of the inning to get the runs back and re-establish the four-run Michigan cushion.

Beaubien recorded the final nine outs, in order, with six strikeouts to earn her first save of the season.

Michigan (7-0) will continue play at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 15), taking on the host Tar Heels at 11 a.m. at Anderson Stadium.