Michigan Earns Improbable Upset Win Over No. 2 UCLA
Michigan Earns Improbable Upset Win Over No. 2 UCLA
Michigan rallied to hand second-ranked UCLA its first loss of the 2019 season at the Judi Garman Classic.
Like life, the Judi Garman Classic comes at you fast. UCLA learned that the hard way on Friday afternoon in Fullerton, Calif.
Hours after earning its second dominant victory over No. 3 Florida in a span of three days, the second-ranked Bruins—world-beaters through 16 games—were handed their first loss of the season at the hands of unranked Michigan, 3-1.
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After surrendering back-to-back hits to start the game, sophomore southpaw Meghan Beaubien was outstanding the rest of the way, allowing just one additional hit over the next seven innings while striking out three.
One-pitch focus. Name of the game. @meghanb_10 #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/aHH0CkRcmW
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) March 2, 2019
It was that sort of effort that kept the Wolverines very much in the game heading into the sixth inning. And it was then that Megan Faraimo, who looked previously untouchable, finally gave in.
A lead-off hit-by-pitch followed by a throwing error put runners at second and third with nobody out. Faith Canfield responded with a 2 RBI single back through the middle to give Michigan the lead. Two batters later, Lexie Blair drove in Canfield with an RBI double to the left-centerfield wall to provide the final margin.
UCLA drops to 16-1 with the loss. Michigan improves to 7-8 and has now won three of four since snapping a five-game losing streak.