Sixth-Inning Homers, Storako Gem Push U-M Past No. 6 Washington in NCAA Regional

Saturday, May 22

Seattle, Wash.

3:00 PM PT

Michigan

38-6

Washington

42-12

Michigan

Washington

Lou Allan (Michigan Photography)

Sixth-Inning Homers, Storako Gem Push U-M Past No. 6 Washington in NCAA Regional

5/22/2021 10:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 20 Michigan edged No. 6 Washington, 2-1, in the NCAA Regional winners' bracket game to advance to Sunday's championship; U-M is one win from advancing to the super regional.
» Alex Storako won the pitchers' duel against Husky ace Gabby Plain, fanning 13 Washington batters while allowing one run on three hits and a walk, notably a solo homer in the sixth.
» Lou Allan and Taylor Bump posted back-to-back solo homers in the top of the sixth inning to put the Wolverines on top.

Site: Seattle, Wash. (Husky Softball Stadium)
Event: NCAA Regional (Day 2 of 3)
Scores: #20 Michigan 2, #6 Washington 1
Records: U-M (38-6), UW (42-12)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 23 -- vs. Washington - NCAA Regional (Seattle, Wash.), 5 p.m. PDT

SEATTLE, Wash. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team used back-to-back sixth-inning home runs and a pitching gem from junior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako to edge No. 6 Washington, 2-1, in the NCAA Regional winners' bracket game on Saturday afternoon (May 22) at Husky Softball Stadium.

The Wolverines (38-6) will face Washington again in the NCAA Regional final Sunday (May 23), slated for a 5 p.m. PDT start at Husky Softball Stadium. An "if necessary" game will follow at 7:30 p.m. PDT. The Huskies defeated Seattle, 8-0 in five innings, in the second elimination game. Michigan needs one win tomorrow to advance to the NCAA Super Regional.

Storako (22-3) was outstanding from the circle, posting 13 strikeouts -- the most for Washington this season -- while holding the Huskies to one run on three hits and a walk.

She claimed the pitchers' duel against Husky ace Gabby Plain (30-3), one of three finalists for the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, who struck out four and allowed two runs on five hits through six innings pitched.

Senior first baseman Lou Allan and senior third baseman Taylor Bump, who have jockeyed for the team home-run lead over the last month, posted consecutive bombs in the sixth. Allan broke the scoreless tie with a no-doubt solo shot to left-center for her 11th homer this season before Bump connected with a 3-2 pitch in the next at-bat and drove it deep to left for her 12th of the year.

Washington answered with a solo homer of its own in the home half of the inning, as catcher Morganne Flores went deep to left with two outs. However, Storako responded with a three-pitch swinging strikeout -- on appeal to the third-base umpire -- to end the inning.

Storako closed out the game with a 1-2-3 seventh, handling a bunted comebacker to the circle herself, before forcing a popout and fanning the final Husky batter again on three pitches.