Storako Strikes Out 13, U-M Blanks Kansas City to Close out Opening Weekend

Sunday, February 13

Tampa, Fla.

9:30 AM

Michigan

3-2

Kansas City

1-4

Kansas City

Michigan

Alex Storako (Michigan Photography)

Storako Strikes Out 13, U-M Blanks Kansas City to Close out Opening Weekend

2/13/2022 1:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan shut out Kansas City to close out its opening weekend in Florida.
» Alex Storako struck out 13 hitters in the win.
» U-M tallied 10 hits, three of which came with Kristina Burkhardt.

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF-Rawlings Invitational (Day 3 of 3)
Score: #16 Michigan 2, Kansas City 0
Records: U-M (3-2), UMKC (1-4)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 18 -- vs. Oklahoma State (Clearwater, Fla.), 10 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Senior right-handed pitcher Alex Storako struck out 13 en route to a complete-game shutout as the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan softball team blanked Kansas City 2-0 on Sunday morning (Feb. 13) in its USF-Rawlings Invitational finale at USF Softball Stadium.

Storako (2-0) scattered three hits and a pair of walks and allowed just four Kangaroo runners to reach scoring position.

Offensively, Michigan (3-2) had 10 hits with Kristina Burkhardt going 3-for-4 at the dish and driving in one run, while Annabelle Widra had two hits and Lauren Esman drove in the game-winner in the bottom of the first inning.

The Wolverines got the early momentum as Storako struck out back-to-back hitters and Keke Tholl caught a runner stealing at third base to close out the top of the first inning. With two outs in the bottom of the first and runners on first and second, Esman ripped a single up the middle to bring in Lexie Blair and gave U-M a 1-0 advantage.

Storako and the Michigan defense put together two perfect innings in the third and fifth before the Wolverines tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Back-to-back infield singles moved runners into scoring position with two outs. Burkhardt dug in and roped her third hit of the day, a single into left field, to score the runner from second to give the Wolverines a 2-0 advantage heading into the seventh inning.

Kansas City (1-4) went down in order with two lineouts to the left side and one final Storako strikeout to close out its season-opening weekend.

The Wolverines will return to the Sunshine State for the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 18-19) Clearwater, Fla. Michigan will face off against Oklahoma State, Central Florida, Florida State and LSU over the two-day event.