The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan softball team captured their second straight outright Big Ten Conference regular-season title with its 12-3 decision -- and weekend series sweep -- at Maryland on Sunday afternoon (May 5) at the Terrapins' Maryland Softball Stadium.

The Wolverines, who posted a sterling 22-1 record in league play this season, has claimed 21 of the last 28 Big Ten regular-season crowns and 11 of the last 12. With Minnesota's series win against Northwestern, including a 4-0 decision on Sunday, Michigan surged to the top spot to claim outright ownership of the conference title. The Gophers finished with a 20-2 league record, while Northwestern went 21-2.

Michigan posted a season-high 18 hits, coming from 10 different players, and scored early and late to build its lead and pull away from the Terrapins. Just as they have throughout the season, U-M's seniors headlined the offense. Senior catcher Katie Alexander posted a career-best four hits, while senior second baseman Faith Canfield tallied three base knocks and senior center fielder Natalie Peters recorded two hits and four RBI.

Another senior, designated player Mackenzie Nemitz, led off the Wolverines' breakthrough second inning with an infield single -- her first of two in the game -- before Canfield and Peters posted back-to-back RBI hits on a scorched double down the left-field line and two-run single up the middle, respectively.

The Wolverines doubled their lead with three runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by sophomore Lou Allan's pinch-hit RBI single, but Maryland responded in kind in the home half, opening the frame with four straight hits to score two and chase sophomore left-handed pitcher Meghan Beaubien from the game.

Freshman right-hander Alex Storako entered with bases loaded and no outs, walked the first batter she faced and answered with three straight strikeouts to end the threat and leave three Terps stranded.

Michigan got the runs back with four in the sixth and tacked on two more in the seventh. Sophomore shortstop Natalia Rodriguez drove in three of the late-inning runs, first on a two-run single just fair down the left-field line in the sixth before using a fielder's choice to plate another in the seventh.

Beaubien (25-4) allowed three runs on five hits -- four in the fifth inning -- and no walks while striking out two for the victory. Storako was excellent in relief, fanning six Terp batters while giving up no hits and two walks over the final three frames.

Michigan (40-11, 22-1 Big Ten) will be the No. 1 seed at the Big Ten Tournament next weekend in Bloomington, Indiana. After a first-round bye, U-M will open play against either Nebraska or Illinois at 1:30 p.m. on Friday (May 10) at Andy Mohr Field.

https://mgoblue.com