Wolverines Rally Past CSU Fullerton, Fall to No. 1 UCLA in Los Angeles

Thursday, March 5

Los Angeles, Calif.

4:30 PM PT

Michigan

14-6

CSU Fullerton

12-8

Michigan

Cal State Fullerton

Abby Skvarce (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Rally Past CSU Fullerton, Fall to No. 1 UCLA in Los Angeles

3/5/2020 11:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 16 Michigan scored five runs in the seventh to defeat CSU Fullerton, 5-1, before dropping a close 2-0 decision to No. 1 UCLA at the UCLA/LBSU Invitational.
» Lexie Blair earned four hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 effort with the tying RBI against the Titans.
» LHP Meghan Beaubien earned both decisions, allowing three total runs off six hits with 17 strikeouts through 10.2 innings pitched.

Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (Easton Stadium)
Event: UCLA/LBSU Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Score: #16 Michigan 5, CSU Fullerton 1; #1 UCLA 2, #16 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (14-7), CSF (12-8), UCLA (21-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 6 -- vs. Boston University (Los Angeles, Calif.), 12:30 p.m. PST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan softball team plated five runs in the seventh to rally to a 5-1 decision against CSU Fullerton before narrowly falling to top-ranked UCLA, 2-0, in its first games of the UCLA/LBSU Invitational on Thursday evening (March 5) at the Bruins' Easton Stadium.

Sophomore left fielder Lexie Blair, who went 3-for-4 to pace the Wolverines against CSU Fullerton, drove in the tying run with a one-out RBI single through the right side before U-M pounced on Titan miscues to steal the lead, scoring on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and a two-run fielding error. Senior third baseman Madison Uden added insurance with an RBI double to right-center.

The Wolverines had trailed since a CSU Fullerton two-out solo home run in the fourth inning. It was one of just three hits allowed by junior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien, who struck out 12 -- her second straight game with double-digit strikeouts -- en route to the victory.

Beaubien (7-5) also earned the start in the nightcap against the top-ranked Bruins and was perfect through three innings until allowing two runs -- both with two outs -- on three hits in the fourth. She fanned five Bruin batters to finish the day with 17 strikeouts through 10.2 innings pitched.

Michigan out-hit UCLA, 5-3, but could not push across a run. The Wolverines threatened in the final two frames, with a Blair two-out double in the former and a pair of leadoff singles in the latter before falling victim to three straight strikeouts to end the contest.

The Wolverines have faced each of the nation's top-three teams over their last seven games.

Michigan (14-7) will wrap up its spring-break swing with two games Friday, March 6 -- its ninth and 10th over an eight-day span -- at the UCLA/LBSU Invitational, taking on Boston University at 12:30 p.m. PST and No. 22 Central Florida at 3 p.m. PST at the Bruins' Easton Stadium.