Storako, Sieler Shine as Wolverines Beat BGSU to Wrap Homestand

Tuesday, March 29

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

19-9

Bowling Green

14-9

Bowling Green

Michigan

Ellie Sieler (Sam Janicki photo)

Storako, Sieler Shine as Wolverines Beat BGSU to Wrap Homestand

3/29/2022 7:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 23 Michigan closed out its nine-game homestand with a 3-0 decision over Bowling Green.
» Alex Storako struck out 18 and allowed just a bunt single in the fourth in a one-hit, complete-game shutout.
» Ellie Sieler went 2-for-3 with a solo homer in the second -- the first of her collegiate career -- while Kristina Burkhardt also posted two hits, including a third-inning triple, and scored twice.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan softball team wrapped up its nine-game homestand with a 3-0 decision against Bowling Green on Tuesday afternoon (March 29) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

Senior RHP Alex Storako (14-2) tossed a one-hit shutout -- perfect but for a Falcon leadoff bunt single in the fourth -- and struck 18 batters to match her highest total of the season and post her ninth game this spring with double-digit strikeouts.

Freshman outfielder Ellie Sieler paced the Wolverines at the plate, going 2-for-3 with her first collegiate home run to put U-M on the scoreboard in the second. She connected on the 1-2 pitch with outs and drove it deep to centerfield.

The Wolverines took advantage of another extra-hit base to double its lead in the third. Graduate student outfielder Kristina Burkhardt, who also posted two hits in the game, pulled a sharp grounder just inside first base and reached third base -- her first triple of the season -- after it rolled into the rightfield corner. The relay to third went through the legs and got away from the Falcon third baseman, allowing Burkhardt to score easily on the fielding error.

Burkhardt singled down the leftfield line to lead off the sixth in her next turn at the plate, stole second base and scored when junior first baseman Lauren Esman skipped a hard RBI single up the middle with two outs. All three U-M runs came with two outs.

Storako tallied at least two strikeouts in all seven frames and struck out the side in the first, second, third and fifth -- posting nine consecutive to start the game. She owns sixth complete-game shutouts this season.

Michigan (19-9) will travel to Evanston, Ill., this weekend for a three-game set against ninth-ranked Northwestern. The series kicks off at 3:30 CDT on Friday (April 1) before a 1 p.m. CDT slate on Saturday (April 2) and a noon CDT finale on Sunday (April 3) at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. Friday and Saturday's slate will both air live on Big Ten Network.