LEXINGTON, Ky. – Michigan pitchers Meghan Beaubien and Sarah Schaefer tossed a combined one-hitter to guide the Wolverines to a 6-0 win over UIC on Saturday evening in an elimination game at John Cropp Stadium.
Michigan will advance to face the loser of the fourth game of the Lexington Regional between Notre Dame and Kentucky on Sunday.
The Wolverines improved to 44-12 on the season, while the Flames’ season comes to an end with a 33-21 record.
Beaubien threw five innings without yielding a hit and giving up just one walk. She added nine strikeouts to the near flawless line. Schaefer pitched the final two innings, giving up just one hit with a pair of Ks.
Michigan’s Natalie Peters enjoyed a 2-for-2 day with two walks and three runs scored. Tera Blanco added a home run in the top of the third where the Wolverines did most of their damage with a three spot.
The designated visitors added a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to make the final margin.
NCAA Lexington Regional
May 19, 2018
Lexington, Ky.
#17 Michigan 6, UIC 0
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement …
“Congrats to UIC on a great season. As I just said to my kids, we get to wake up tomorrow and have a game. We get to play Michigan softball and at this time of year it is one game at a time and you just have to fight to stay alive. I’m proud of our kids. Yesterday was a rough day and I thought they put it back together today. It was a team effort from all of them. I thought Meghan Beaubien looked like herself and the team looked like themselves. We had a little fun, our confidence was better, and we’re excited to get up and play ball tomorrow.”
On team’s mindset as opposed to yesterday …
“The only thing we really control is how we approach things and how we react to things. You don’t always control what happens. If they wanted things to change we had to change our approach and our mindset and it started with Meghan Beaubien. She did it. She turned herself back around and I think that gives the team confidence. I thought that they embraced that and they were better today. Now they need to have a good mindset tomorrow. It’s going to be tough but we’re here to win a tournament so our mindset is one thing that we can control and I thought we did a good job.”
On reacting to Meghan Bauebien’s no-hitter going into the sixth inning …
“We never mention a no-hitter in the middle of a no-hitter. Meghan just does what Meghan does. She’s a great pitcher, she’s had success, and it takes the whole team to hit a no-hitter. Right now we just need to survive and advance – we don’t care how we do it.”
Michigan Student-Athletes
#11, Natalie Peters, Jr., CF
On what Michigan softball is in her mind …
“Being proud to wear the block ‘M’ every second, setting the precedent that comes with it, and taking the game one pitch at a time. That’s what we do and that’s what we’ve always done.”
#24, Tera Blanco, Sr., 1B
On what Michigan softball is in her mind …
“Just embracing the moment. We’re all happy to be here, just remembering how much we love the game and just embracing every moment that we have and every game that we have.”
UIC Head Coach Lynn Curylo
Opening statement …
“I thought with all of the adversity that we had, I’m proud of these girls. I couldn’t be prouder. They played really hard, played together and next year can’t come soon enough.”
On the challenge in facing two ranked opponents …
“We were shorthanded. It’s hard, our starting third basemen, our starting right fielder out. To have our backup players come in, compete and get the job done is impressive. It showed that we had some depth especially at a big stage like this. It’s not as if we’re in the beginning of the season or in the middle of the season. It’s regionals. They worked hard even if they weren’t necessarily the starters.”
On facing a potential no-hitter …
“Stay on time, fight, try and get on time, keep battling, we’re going to get it, we’re going to get it and try not to get defeated there. She’s (Meghan Beaubien) a fantastic pitcher. She’s thrown I don’t know how many no-hitters this year, you guys probably do, but you just have to keep digging in and attacking and competing out there, and it’ll happen. I knew it would happen eventually, but I just wasn’t quite sure what inning. I mean I know it didn’t happen against her, but I’m happy that we were able to get one. It was hustle.”
On ending their season in the Lexington regional …
“Making it to the regional is a great accomplishment, going back-to-back, well, four-time regular-season champion. I keep reminding them that there’s going to be great moments because it’s hard to get here, and having a bus ride away from here, we’re probably happy about because we didn’t have to worry about not being able to make a flight. Seeing some familiar faces from the region, in our area, Midwest teams. A lot of these guys played against a couple of the players throughout tournament ball and high school. I think we leave with knowing that I think you need to fight and get better.”
UIC Student-Athletes
#15, Skylee James, Jr., INF
On the team’s performance …
“I think we battled until the end. I feel like you couldn’t tell If it was 6-0 or 0-0 people were going up there and making her throw a lot of pitches. I think that was good to see.”
On having a leader like Taylor Cairns …
“I think Taylor’s been an amazing leader. I’ve played with her for three years and she always makes me better on and off the field. She has good character, and super smart academically as well. Her academic awards are off the charts. I can always go to her for advice. She’s just a great friend and great teammate. I would aspire to be more like her.”
#17, Taylor Cairns, Sr., INF
On playing here last game …
“Pretty much, when it was the bottom of the seventh, we had one runner on. I was pretty much just cheering on my teammates. I still had faith in them. I knew it might be the end but just kept cheering on my teammates and felt them battling. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to finish with.”
On advice to team next year …
“Keep working hard. Work while you wait. If you’re not a starter, keep working. As you could see, we had girls coming in who weren’t starters the whole season. Emily Wetzel, was injured for a while, and the week that she gets cleared she was thrown into third base. That was just impressive and if we could get the whole team to be like that, that would be amazing. Keep working hard and take extra reps.”
#3, Cassie Kaelber, Fr., INF
On having a leader like Taylor Cairns …
“I would have to agree with what Skylee said. I couldn’t ask for a better role model. When I practice at second base Taylor was always helpful and telling me where to go. Really good person to have up there on and off the field.”
