Michigan Clinches Third Straight B1G Title in Twinbill Sweep of Minnesota

Saturday, May 8

Minneapolis, Minn.

1:30 PM CT

Michigan

31-5

Minnesota

25-9

Michigan

Minnesota

(Michigan Photography)

Michigan Clinches Third Straight B1G Title in Twinbill Sweep of Minnesota

5/8/2021 9:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Leah Howard

» No. 19 Michigan swept its Saturday doubleheader at No. 23 Minnesota, 10-4 and 3-1, to clinch its final road series of the regular season.
» The Wolverines also clinched the program's 22nd Big Ten title -- its third in a row -- and secured the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
» Julia Jimenez headlined the offense with four hits and four RBI on the day, including a two-run homer in the first slate -- her second in as many games.

Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Jane Sage Cowles Stadium)
Scores: #19 Michigan 10, #23 Minnesota 4; #19 Michigan 3, #23 Minnesota 1
Records: U-M (32-5, 32-5 B1G), MINN (25-10, 25-10 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 9 -- at #23 Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 2 p.m. CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan softball team took both ends of a doubleheader against No. 23 Minnesota, 10-4 and 3-1, to clinch the road series and capture its third straight outright Big Ten Conference title on Saturday (May 8) at the Golden Gophers' Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

The Wolverines, who boast a 32-5 record and have won 11 in a row, have claimed 22 of the last 29 Big Ten championships and 12 of the last 13. With five games remaining in the regular season, Michigan (32-5, 32-5 Big Ten) has an insurmountable lead over Minnesota (25-10, 25-10 Big Ten) in the conference standings. With no Big Ten Tournament this season, the Wolverines also secure the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore second baseman Julia Jimenez headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts against Minnesota for the second straight day, going 4-for-6 in the twinbill with a home run and four RBI in the first game. Senior first baseman Lou Allan also posted three hits and two RBI in the high-scoring opener.

Senior left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien (13-3) struck out nine and allowed one run on three hits and two walks in a complete-game effort in the nightcap after closing U-M's first slate with a perfect seventh inning. Junior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako (19-2) claimed the win the opener but allowed four runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out nine through five innings.

Michigan plated five runs in the top of the sixth to build a sizable 10-run lead in the day's first game before Minnesota prevented a run-rule loss with four runs in the home half of the frame.

Jimenez drove in U-M's first three runs, roping a first-inning single up the middle before bombing out a two-run homer to right field in the third -- her fourth home run of the season and second in as many games.

Jimenez bounced an RBI single through the left side to kickstart the scoring surge in the sixth. Freshman designated player Keke Tholl and fifth-year senior outfielder Haley Hoogenraad followed with a pair of two-run hits -- Tholl earned the first RBI of her collegiate career on a roped single down the right-field line.

Michigan had to rally in the second slate after the Gophers took their first lead of the series in the second, just beating the tag at home plate to score on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Junior catcher Hannah Carson drove in the tying run in the next half inning, lining an RBI double to the left-field wall and getting a break with the Minnesota left fielder tripped up and not able to make a clean play to the ball.

Michigan broke the tie in the sixth, using three straight singles, including a pair of bunts, to load the bases before junior outfielder Lexie Blair sailed a sac fly to center field to plate the go-ahead run. Hoogenraad added some insurance two batters later with a two-out RBI single to left field.

The Wolverines will wrap the road series -- their last of the 2021 regular season -- against Minnesota with a 2 p.m. CDT slate Sunday (May 9) at Cowles Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.