Bats Boom, Blanco, Beaubien Bash Baylor Bears [Update: Beats ULL As Well]
A scuffling UM softball team seized a huge opportunity to set things back in the right direction today, topping #8 Baylor 6-3 our in California. Multiple rain delays dragged the affair out, but in the end, it was all to the good for the Maize & Blue, who finally got a big offensive performance against a big-time team.
Michigan scored in each of the first 4 innings, highlighted by a 3-run Tera Blanco homer in the top of the 1st, her first of two hits. Faith Canfield also homered, and went 4-4 on the day. Aidan Falk rounded out the multi-hit club, going 3-3. Encouragingly, freshman Lou Allan saw extended action for the first time all year, and picked up a hit as well.
Defensively, Meghan Beaubien went the distance and picked up the win. It wasn't her strongest outing, as she surrendered 5 hits, including a 3-run home-run in the 6th to open the door for some late inning drama. She came back strong, however, with a 1-2-3 inning the B7 to slam the door on Baylor's comeback hopes.
This is a huge marquee win for Michigan, their second on the season, to go with a W over FSU two weeks ago. Michigan gets one more opportunity at a top-25 scalp against #18 ULL, starting shortly. After that, a string of lower-tier opponents will round out the non-conference slate.
[Update: The momentum kept rolling in game 2, as Michigan took down the ULL Ragin' Cajuns 3-1. Michigan jumped out to an early lead, and it was all about Faith Canfield. She crushed the first pitch of the game over the fence, and drove in 2 more runs in the 2nd with a single. Pitching was by committee, with Schaefer throwing 2 innings, Blanco 4, and Beaubien 1, picking up a 1-2-3 save. Cal Poly will round out the Judi Garman slate Saturday at 9:30 AM Pacific]
I saw 8 replies and knew this was already going to be here.
Well done.
It was a great game (despite the delays). Beaubien wasn't as sharp as usual but as I said before, she can't shut out everyone. And the bats were working today so no harm, no foul. Nice win ladies! Now let's take one from ULL.
Boom! Bork! Bork! Bork!'d, baby!
This team was reeling last weekend after that loss to VT. Since then, 5 straight wins.
We are teetering on the edge of being unranked for the first time since 2001. Keep up the good work this weekend and we could climb out of #25.
And a great win! I love the momentum for this team and tip my cap to SB Wolverine and WD for their knowledge and fandom of our softball team.
Michigan follows that up with a WIN against #17 Louisana. 3-1.so we have 2 top tens wins( #8 FSU and #8 Baylor) and a top 20 win...Needed both and we got both today...bats had some decent results when they really needed it the most....M jumped out early with 1 in the first and 2 in the second and made stand up..Good pitching ...we got that....if we can get some offense we could be back on top of the BIG10
I love me some alliteration. Well done, all of you!
I took my daughter to the games today and outside of the weather it was a great day for softball.
Megan Baubien is better than I imagined and I had high hopes already. First of all, she has an awesome physique. Her arms are absolute guns. Amazing look for a frosh player. Second, her control was outstanding. I don't think she missed a pitch by more than 2 inches before the rain started in the 4th. She was perfect until then but lost control when the ball got wet and hit a batter. A couple more near wild pitches and the umpire called for the tarp. In Megan's defense today’s game was scheduled to start at 12:30pm local time then got moved to 9:30 am when Sparty got stuck in a snow storm (typical). The team came out early and went through a full warm up before the game was delayed for rain ultimately pushing the start back to 11:15am. Then due to an hour plus rain delay in the bottom of the 4th the game didn't end until after 2pm. All things considered I am more than willing to look past her bad 6th inning. The outside circumstances were terrible. She was incredible the rest of the day. The next four years of Megan Baubien at the mound will not disappoint.
Faith Canfield was an absolute beast. 2 Hrs today and all 3 RBIs in the second game. Tera Blanco looked great on the mound until a suspect 6th inning. Sarah Schaefer has two shutout innings too. So many great defensive plays but one standout was a diving grab on what might have been a foul tip caught by catcher Katie Alexander. When she took her first step at it I didn't think she had a prayer and I still don't know how she caught it. Aidan Falk, Natalia Rodriguez, and Taylor Bump all made more than one great play in the infield. Lou Allan looks good at the plate but apparently really likes Smashmouth so the jury is still out on her.
Coach Hutch highlight of the day was after the Louisiana coach received a formal warning for arguing an outside pitch strike call from his 3rd base position the umpire walked towards Michigan dugout to explain he had warned the Louisiana coach. Coach Hutchinson immediately yelled back at the umpire "It was a bad pitch!" The look of absolute fear and confusion on the umpire was priceless. He may have peed himself and proceeded to call every ball off the plate a strike for the rest of the game.
All in all this team looked great today and should make a good run. Coach Hutchinson is everything right about Michigan. We are incredibly lucky to have her.
Go Blue!
*Coach Hutchins
Thanks for the first-person report! It's always great to hear from people who are at these early season games, since so little of it is available to see. I really wish we could at least get some good highlight reels on MGoBlue.com or something.
I really can't wait to see Beaubien in person. Not sure when I'll be able to, but it'll be a treat when I do, that's for sure. She's the real deal.
Love the in person report! Thanks!
reporting. Thank you. Looking forward to Michigan softball on BTN. Go Blue!!!