Beaubien Tosses No-Hitter, Storako Fans 19 in Doubleheader Sweep of Nebraska

Thursday, March 11

Leesburg, Fla.

4:15 PM

Michigan

5-2, 5-2

Nebraska

3-4, 3-4

Michigan

Nebraska

Alex Storako (Michigan Photography)

Beaubien Tosses No-Hitter, Storako Fans 19 in Doubleheader Sweep of Nebraska

3/11/2021 10:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 23 Michigan opened its second Big Ten "bubble" weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Nebraska, 2-1 in eight innings, and 2-0.
» Left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien tossed the fifth no-hitter of her career, allowing an unearned run off four walks while posting 14 strikeouts -- her fourth game in as many starts with double-digit strikeouts.
» Right-hander Alex Storako tied the Michigan single-game record with a career-best 19 strikeouts in a two-hit shutout in the nightcap.

Site: Leesburg, Fla. (Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex)
Scores: #23 Michigan 2, Nebraska 1 (8 inn.); #23 Michigan 2, Nebraska 0
Records: U-M (6-2, 6-2 B1G), Nebraska (3-5, 3-5 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 12 -- vs. Nebraska (Leesburg, Fla), 1:30 p.m.

LEESBURG, Fla. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a pair of lights-out pitching performances to kick off its second Big Ten Conference "bubble" weekend with a sweep of Nebraska, 2-1 in eight innings and 2-0, on Thursday evening (March 11) at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.

Senior left-hander Meghan Beaubien tossed the fifth no-hitter of her collegiate career in the opener, allowing an unearned run in the sixth and four walks while striking 14 Cornhuskers. Junior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako followed with a 19-strikeout, one-hit shutout in the nightcap, tying Michigan's single-game strikeout record, which Beaubien had previously matched in the season opener against Purdue (Feb. 26).

Wolverine great Jennie Ritter first posted 19 strikeouts in an eight-inning game against Oklahoma in the 2006 NCAA Regional final. Storako and Beaubien, who also tied the Big Ten record for most strikeouts in a seven-inning game, have posted double-digit strikeouts in each of their four starts this season.

Junior left fielder Lexie Blair used a two-out RBI double to drive in the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning in the day's first slate. Blair laced the extra-base hit -- her third of the season -- to the right-center gap to score fifth-year senior Haley Hoogenraad, who was aboard due to the international tiebreaker, from third base. Blair has successfully hit in each of the Wolverines' eight games this season.

The Huskers left two runners stranded in scoring position in the bottom half of the eighth, bunting the tying run to third before Beaubien intentionally walked power hitter Tristen Edwards with two outs. Sophomore third baseman Julia Jimenez rushed in to catch a popup in foul territory for the final out.

Jimenez, who went 2-for-3 in the opener, plated U-M's first run with an RBI single to right in the top of the sixth, but Nebraska responded in the bottom half of the inning after a walk, stolen base and a two-base fielding error with two outs. After another walk, Beaubien got out of the jam with a swinging strikeout to end the inning. The Wolverine lefty struck out the side in the second and posted two strikeouts apiece in the first, third, fifth and sixth.

For her part, Storako's first 14 outs came by way of strikeout until a fifth-inning popout ended the streak. Nebraska (3-5, 3-5 Big Ten) spoiled her no-hit bid with a one-out single in the sixth and reached on a fielding error in the seventh before the Wolverine fanned the next three batters to end the game with a Nebraska runner stranded on second base.

Michigan (6-2, 6-2 Big Ten) scored both of its runs off three hits in the fourth inning, including a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run single to left field from sophomore Lauren Esman. Junior catcher Hannah Carson posted two hits in the nightcap and keyed the fourth-inning rally with a one-out single to short.

Michigan will wrap up its three-game Nebraska series with a 1:30 p.m. slate tomorrow (Friday, March 12) at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Fla. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus.