Wolverines Run Rule No. 7 Florida, Beat USF in Extras

Saturday, February 8

Tampa, Fla.

1:45 PM

Michigan

3-0

Florida

2-1

MICHIGAN

Florida

Alex Storako (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Run Rule No. 7 Florida, Beat USF in Extras

2/8/2020 11:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 17 Michigan rolled to an 11-2, six-inning win over No. 7 Florida before edging host South Florida, 2-1, in eight innings on day two at the USF-Rawlings Invitational.
» Morgan Overaitis drove in the game-winning run against USF as part of a four-hit day; Lou Allan and Taylor Bump tallied home runs against the Gators.
» Alex Storako and Meghan Beaubien combined for 15 strikeouts and just three runs and 11 hits allowed in the circle.

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF-Rawlings Invitational (Day 2 of 3)
Score: #17 Michigan 11, #7 Florida 2 (6 inn.); #17 Michigan 2, South Florida 1 (8 inn.)
Records: U-M (4-0), UF (2-1), USF (0-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 9 -- vs. Fresno State (Tampa, Fla.), 9 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan softball team won in shortened fashion and in extra innings to stay perfect on the young season, cruising to an 11-2 rout in six inning against No. 7 Florida before toughing out a 2-1 decision in eight against host South Florida on the second day of action at the USF-Rawlings Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 8) at USF Softball Stadium.

The Wolverines' win against Florida (2-1) was their first since the 2015 NCAA Women's College World Series and came in dominant fashion. Michigan (4-0) plated five runs in the first inning, added two more in the third and used a four-run sixth to push the game into run-rule territory.

Eight different Wolverines recorded hits against Florida. Junior first baseman Lou Allan and junior third baseman Taylor Bump both homered in the sixth inning as part of two-RBI efforts, while sophomore designated player Morgan Overaitis posted a career-best three hits. Senior center fielder Haley Hoogenraad also registered two hits and two RBI and, with the bases loaded in the fourth, made a catch against the wall to end the biggest Gator threat of the contest.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Storako (2-0) went the distance in the circle, striking out seven while allowing two runs on six hits -- notably a pair of solo home runs -- and three walks.

Michigan scored all of five of its first-inning runs with two outs, tallying five hits and taking advantage of multiple Florida miscues to secure the significant early lead. Sophomore catcher Hannah Carson broke through with the bases loaded, working back from an 0-2 count to lace a two-run single into right field. Hoogenraad followed with a two-run double to the base of the right-field wall before U-M tacked on two more off back-to-back Gator fielding errors.

Hoogenraad also doubled in her next plate appearance to lead off the third and scored when senior right fielder Thais Gonzalez sent an infield single past first base. Gonzalez came home herself on a sac fly from Allan.

Allan drove across another with a leadoff solo homer to right center -- her second long ball of the season -- in the sixth, and after an Overaitis double, Bump went yard just two batters later with a deep two-run shot to left field for her first collegiate home run. With the run-rule cushion in place, senior Abby Skvarce added one more insurance tally with two outs in the frame, drilling a pinch-hit RBI double to left-center. Skvarce owns two hits and two RBI in two plate appearances this weekend.

Storako allowed solo home runs in the third and fifth innings but retired six in a row to close out the victory, earning inning-ending punchouts to put an exclamation point on both the fifth and sixth frames.

The Wolverines' bats were quieter in the nightcap against the host Bulls (0-3), with Overaitis and Carison pacing U-M with 2-for-4 efforts and an RBI apiece. Overaitis drove in the game-winning run in the eighth; with sophomore left fielder Lexie Blair in scoring position due to the international tiebreaker, Overaitis looped an RBI single just over the shortstop's head.

Junior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (2-0) retired the final three USF batters in order in the home half of the eighth -- with the runner on second -- forcing a popped-up bunt before dealing back-to-back strikeouts to end the game. Beaubien allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight in the contest.

The Wolverines will wrap up their appearance at the season-opening USF-Rawlings Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 9) with a 9 a.m. slate against Fresno State at USF Stadium.