Wolverines Defeat In-State Rival MSU in First Home Game in 695 Days

Wednesday, April 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

Michigan

17-4, 17-4

Michigan State

7-14, 7-14

Michigan State

Michigan

Haley Hoogenraad (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Defeat In-State Rival MSU in First Home Game in 695 Days

4/14/2021 8:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» No. 22 Michigan rallied from an initial deficit to beat in-state rival Michigan State, 6-1, in its rescheduled home opener -- U-M's first home game in 695 days.
» Haley Hoogenraad used a two-out inside-the-park home run to put U-M ahead in the second inning.
» Meghan Beaubien and Alex Storako combined for 14 strikeouts and just three hits allowed.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #22 Michigan 6, Ohio State 1
Records: U-M (17-4, 17-4 B1G), MSU (7-14, 7-14 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 16 -- vs. Maryland (Wilpon Complex), 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan softball team claimed its first home game in 695 days, defeating in-state rival Michigan State, 6-1, in its rescheduled home opener on Wednesday evening (April 14) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

U-M rallied from an initial deficit then built its lead over several innings. Seven different Wolverines combined for eight hits, while junior catcher Hannah Carson posted a multi-hit effort with two hits and an RBI. Fifth-year senior outfielder Haley Hoogenraad provided early fireworks with a two-run inside-the-park home run to put Michigan in front in the second inning.

Michigan State (7-14, 7-14 Big Ten) took the initial lead on a two-out solo home run to right field in the top of the second, and Michigan (17-4, 17-4 Big Ten) responded in kind -- though somewhat unconventionally -- in the home half of the inning. Carson led off the inning with a single through the right side and scored when Hoogenraad looped a well-placed fly ball just fair down the right-field line. The MSU right fielder appeared the lose the ball in the sun before it kicked hard into foul territory and Hoogenraad made it around the bases safely for her first homer of the season and ninth of her career.

The Wolverines tacked on a run apiece in the fourth and fifth games -- on a Carson RBI double and senior first baseman Lou Allan's RBI single, respectively, before adding more cushion with a two-spot in the sixth. Junior outfielder Lexie Blair drove in the final run for Michigan, shaking off a pair of strikeouts earlier in the game to extend her hit streak to 21 straight games with a two-out RBI single through the right side.

Senior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien and junior RHP Alex Storako (11-2) combined for the victory in a planned split effort. Beaubien allowed one run on three hits and struck out five through three innings. Storako entered in the fourth and did not allow a base runner -- with nine strikeouts -- over the final four frames.

Michigan will remain home this weekend, hosting Maryland for a four-game set at the Wilpon Complex. The series kicks off with a 7:30 p.m. slate on Friday (April 16) live on the Big Ten Network before a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday (April 17) and 1 p.m. series finale on Sunday (April 18). All three of Saturday and Sunday games will stream live on Big Ten Network+.