When Michigan’s biggest strength became its Achilles’ heel Bats go quiet, come up short against Nebraska SEATTLE — All year, there were two people Michigan could count on. Pitchers Alex Storako and Meghan Beaubien. One was the Big Ten pitcher of the year, and the other, a senior who came into the weekend ranked 12th in the country with her ERA of 1.08. No other team in the field of 64 in the NCAA softball tournament had a pair of pitchers better. And with a superb outfield behind them, it was easy to see why the Wolverines posed a threat to any team that came across them. At least on paper that is. In the biggest game of Michigan’s season, where it was just one win away from its first super regional since 2016, its two aces combined to give up 13 hits and ten runs — season highs in both categories. To name a few more of the absurd hitting stats Washington compiled against two of the best pitchers in the nation. The Huskies batted 0.419, they hit three for five with the bases loaded and batted over 0.400 with runners in scoring position. Numbers the Wolverines simply haven’t given up all year, not even close. With the majority of that damage being done in just the bottom of the fourth, where Washington scored seven runs. An inning that truly showed Michigan what type of night it was, and the aces up its sleeve were gone. An inning that started off with a solo home run from Husky outfielder Jadelyn Allchin that cut into the Wolverines’ lead and sent Storako to the dugout. Just under three weeks after she threw 23 strikeouts in an eight inning game against Michigan State, a program record, Storako was benched. The pitcher, fresh off a no-hitter on Friday and a perfect game last Sunday, Beaubien, was brought on to try and patch up the wound and stop the bleeding. That did not happen. Instead, the Huskies smelled blood and like a pack of wolves, they jumped on their prey, piling on six more runs and eating up every pitch Beaubien flung their way. By the time the inning was over, Washington’s entire lineup made it up to bat. And, the scoreboard read 10-5, Huskies. “I don’t know what to say,” Michigan coach Carol Hutchines said in a somber post game press conference. “They’re a strong, powerful team and they…,” Hutchins paused. “They were pretty formidable.” But there are, in fact, things to be said. One of which being that in the biggest game of the year, they were outdone by what gave them the edge all year. All year long Michigan lived by its pitching, but on Sunday night, it also died by it. Juxtapose that with their opponent, another team who lived and died by their star pitcher — Gabbie Plain — all year, and the difference is striking. Plain threw over 200 hundred pitches on the night — including her count from the first game of the doubleheader — and yet, she still came up big. After Plain gave up five runs in the first two innings, she only saw 15 batters over the final five innings, the minimum, and didn’t allow a single run. And that was the difference between the two sides. Strength against strength, Washington overpowered the Wolverines, and ended their season. On a night where the Huskies were the better team. On a night where Plain was the better pitcher. On a night where Michigan’s biggest strength was its Achilles’ heel. Trailing 5-1 in the top of the ninth inning, sophomore first baseman Jimmy Obertop launched a home run over the left-field wall. Obertop brought the Wolverines within two runs, leaving the door open for another comeback opportunity. Michigan went down swinging, a microcosm of their offensive struggles this past weekend at Nebraska. During their three games against the Cornhuskers, the Wolverines mustered a measly five runs. In the opening game on Friday, Michigan was stumped at the plate. Through the first four innings, they produced hardly any offense. Their lone baserunner came via a hit by pitch in the top of the fourth. In the fifth, however, the Wolverines appeared poised to break the scoreless tie. Sophomore infielder Ted Burton worked a walk and sophomore outfielder Tito Flores lined a single down the left-field line. With two men on and no outs, Michigan finally had a chance to score. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, the next three batters were silenced. Michigan would have a few more chances with runners in scoring position, but they were unable to put anything on the scoreboard, falling 1-0. The lineup may have disappointed against Nebraska, but that did not deter the team’s confidence. “What doesn’t show is the amount of barrels that we did put in play,” Flores said. “We understand that this is baseball, failure is going to come. But when that hits, how can we overcome that adversity and keep competing.” During the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Wolverines’s early struggles continued. Through three innings, they had done nothing. Then, they finally scored against the Cornhuskers thanks to a pair of walks, a passed ball, and a fielder’s choice RBI. Michigan would tack on another, but the story of game two was sophomore right-hander Cameron Weston. He more than made up for the quiet offensive performance, pitching seven scoreless innings. His excellence pushed his team over the hump and propelled them to an even series. Weston’s offense may not have given him much support, but like Flores, his mindset remains unchanged. “We were hitting balls hard, I don’t have any concern for it moving forward,” Weston said. “We feel prepared. We feel like we’ll play our best baseball, whenever the lights turn on. We’re pretty confident. Whatever happens, happens.” In the second half of the doubleheader, the Wolverines had an opportunity to erase their offensive shortcomings and steal the series. They did not come through. For the first eight innings of the game, they were shut out. SPENCER RAINES Daily Sports Writer SAM BERNARDI Daily Sports Writer Thursday, June 3, 2021 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS 15 Read more at michigandaily.com MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily Michigan relied on its pitching all year. On Sunday night, it came back to bite them. BECCA MAHON/Daily Michigan’s offense struggled against Nebraska.