2021 Michigan Wolverines softball team explained

Year:2021
Team:Michigan Wolverines
Sport:softball
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:Big Ten
Record:38–8
Conf Record:36–6
Head Coach:Carol Hutchins
Hc Year:37th
Asst Coach1:Bonnie Tholl
Ac1 Year:28th
Asst Coach2:Jennifer Brundage
Ac2 Year:23rd
Stadium:Alumni Field
Champion:Big Ten Regular Season Champions
NCAA Seattle Regional

The 2021 Michigan Wolverines softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Michigan during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Wolverines were led by head coach Carol Hutchins in her thirty-seventh season, and played their home games at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Previous season

The Wolverines finished the 2020 season 15–8 overall, in a season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Preseason

Michigan was ranked No. 17 by NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball, No. 18 by D1Softball, and No. 20 by Softball America in the preseason polls, the only Big Ten Conference team named in each poll.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Schedule and results

! style="" | Regular season (36–6)|- valign="top"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|February 26|| vs. || || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex
Leesburg, FL || 4–0 || Beaubien (1–0) || Bates (0–1) || — || 100 || 1–0 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|February 26|| vs. Purdue || No. 17 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 4–0 || Storako (1–0) || Henley (0–1) || — || 100 || 2–0 || 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|February 27|| vs. || No. 17 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 2–0 || || Doocy (0–1) || — || 0 || 3–0 || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|February 27|| vs. Iowa || No. 17 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 6–5 || Storako (2–0) || Loecker (0–1) || — || 0 || 4–0 || 4–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"|February 28|| vs. || No. 17 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 1–2 || Sickels (2–1) || || — || 0 || 4–1 || 4–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"|February 28|| vs. Illinois || No. 17 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 1–2 || Jarvis (3–0) || Storako (2–1) || || 0 || 4–2 || 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 11|| vs. || No. 23 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 2–1 (8) || Beaubien (3–1) || Ferrell (1–4) || — || 86 || 5–2 || 5–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 11|| vs. Nebraska || No. 23 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 2–0 || Storako (3–1) || Wallace (2–1) || — || 74 || 6–2 || 6–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"|March 12|| vs. Nebraska || No. 23 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 4–5 (8) || Wallace (3–1) || Storako (3–2) || — || 74 || 6–3 || 6–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 13|| vs. || No. 23 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 8–0 (5) || Storako (4–2) || Schwartz (2–3) || — || 66 || 7–3 || 7–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 13|| vs. Wisconsin || No. 23 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 3–0 || Storako (5–2) || Schwartz (2–4) || — || 66 || 8–3 || 8–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 14|| vs. Wisconsin || No. 23 || Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex || 2–1 || Storako (6–2) || Hestekin (2–1) || — || 59 || 9–3 || 9–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 26|| at || No. 25 || Andy Mohr Field
Bloomington, IN || 7–1 || Beaubien (4–1) || Goodin (3–3) || — || 98 || 10–3 || 10–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 27|| at Indiana || No. 25 || Andy Mohr Field || 3–1 (9) || Storako (7–2) || Goodin (3–4) || — || 103 || 11–3 || 11–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 27|| at Indiana || No. 25 || Andy Mohr Field || 8–1 || Beaubien (5–1) || Goodin (3–5) || — || 103 || 12–3 || 12–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|March 28|| at Indiana || No. 25 || Andy Mohr Field || 4–0 || Storako (8–2) || Goodin (3–6) || — || 56 || 13–3 || 13–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"|April 2 || || No. 23 || Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI || colspan=9| Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols[6] |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"|April 3 || Michigan State || No. 23 || Alumni Field || colspan=9| Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"|April 3 || Michigan State || No. 23 || Alumni Field || colspan=9| Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb"|April 4 || Michigan State || No. 23 || Alumni Field || colspan=9| Postponed due to COVID-19 protocols|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 9 || at || No. 23 || Buckeye Field
Columbus, OH|| 7–0 || Beaubien (6–1) || Buresch (5–2) || — || 150 || 14–3 || 14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 10 || at Ohio State || No. 23 || Buckeye Field || 3–1 || Storako (9–2) || Smith (7–6) || — || 177 || 15–3 || 15–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"|April 10 || at Ohio State || No. 23 || Buckeye Field || 2–3 || Buresch (6–2) || Beaubien (6–2) || — || 164 || 15–4 || 15–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 11 || at Ohio State || No. 23 || Buckeye Field || 11–0 || Storako (10–2) || Smith (7–7) || — || 151 || 16–4 || 16–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 14 || Michigan State || No. 22 || Alumni Field || 6–1 || Storako (11–2) || Ladd (2–6) || — || 93 || 17–4 || 17–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 16 || || No. 22 || Alumni Field || 4–2 || Beaubien (7–2) || Brann (3–5) || — || 96 || 18–4 || 18–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 17 || Maryland || No. 22 || Alumni Field || 2–0 || Storako (12–2) || Wyche (2–4) || — || 138 || 19–4 || 19–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 17 || Maryland || No. 22 || Alumni Field || 5–1 || Beaubien (8–2) || Ellefson (1–2) || — || 138 || 20–4 || 20–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 18 || Maryland || No. 22 || Alumni Field || 8–0 (5) || Storako (13–2) || Wyche (2–5) || — || 123 || 21–4 || 21–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"|April 23 || || No. 20 || Alumni Field || 1–4 || Williams (13–2) || Beaubien (8–3) || — || 192 || 21–5 || 21–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 24 || Northwestern || No. 20 || Alumni Field || 7–2 || Storako (14–2) || Boyd (3–2) || — || 181 || 22–5 || 22–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 24 || Northwestern || No. 20 || Alumni Field || 6–3 || Beaubien (9–3) || Williams (13–3) || — || 181 || 23–5 || 23–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 25 || Northwestern || No. 20 || Alumni Field || 2–0 || Storako (15–2) || Newport (4–3) || — || 164 || 24–5 || 24–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|April 30 || at || No. 19 || Beard Field
State College, PA || 7–1 || Beaubien (10–3) || Parshall (1–13) || — || 118 || 25–5 || 25–5|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 1 || at Penn State || || Beard Field || || Storako (16–2) || || — || 166 || 26–5 || 26–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 1 || at Penn State || No. 19 || Beard Field || 12–2 (6) || || Oatley (3–3) || — || 166 || 27–5 || 27–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 2 || at Penn State || No. 19 || Beard Field || 5–3 || Storako (17–2) || Parshall (1–14) || || 155 || 28–5 || 28–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 5 || at Michigan State || No. 19 || Secchia Stadium
East Lansing, MI || 1–0 (9) || Storako (18–2) || Miller (6–7) || — || 0 || 29–5 || 29–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 7 || || No. 19 || Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Minneapolis, MN || 3–0 || || Fiser (12–5) || Storako (1) || 0 || 30–5 || 30–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 8 || at No. 23 Minnesota || No. 19 || Jane Sage Cowles Stadium || 10–4 || Storako (19–2) || Fiser (12–7) || — || 0 || 31–5 || 31–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 8 || at No. 23 Minnesota || No. 19 || Jane Sage Cowles Stadium || 3–1 || Beaubien (13–3) || Pease (11–2) || — || 0 || 32–5 || 32–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"|May 9 || at No. 23 Minnesota || No. 19 || Jane Sage Cowles Stadium || 3–7 || Fiser (13–7) || Storako (19–3) || — || 0 || 32–6 || 32–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 14 || || No. 18 || Alumni Field || 3–0 || Beaubien (14–3) || Hitchcock (5–15) || — || 207 || 33–6 || 33–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 15 || Rutgers || No. 18 || Alumni Field || 13–0 (5) || Storako (20–3) || Vickers (0–4) || — || 143 || 34–6 || 34–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 15 || Rutgers || No. 18 || Alumni Field || 11–0 (5) || Beaubien (15–3) || Hitchcock (5–16) || — || 143 || 35–6 || 35–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"|May 16 || Rutgers || No. 18 || Alumni Field || 2–1 || Storako (21–3) || Hitchcock (5–17) || — || 140 || 36–6 || 36–6|-|-! style="" | Postseason (2–2)|-|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| May 21 || Seattle || No. 20 || Husky Softball Stadium
Seattle, WA || 2–0 || || Nance (10–6) || — || 250 || 37–6 || 1–0|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| May 22 || || No. 20 || Husky Softball Stadium || 2–1 || Storako (22–3) || Plain (30–3) || — || 250 || 38–6 || 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"| May 23 || No. 6 Washington (16) || No. 20 || Husky Softball Stadium || 0–2 || Plain (31–3) || || — || 200 || 38–7 || 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"| May 23 || No. 6 Washington (16) || No. 20 || Husky Softball Stadium || 5–10 || Plain (32–3) || Beaubien (16–5) || — || 200 || 38–8 || 2–2|-|-|

Rankings

See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings.

Awards and honors

Weekly Awards
PlayerAwardDate AwardedRef.
Meghan BeaubienCo-Big Ten Pitcher of the WeekMarch 2, 2021[7]
Alex StorakoBig Ten Pitcher of the WeekMarch 30, 2021[8]
Alex StorakoBig Ten Pitcher of the WeekApril 13, 2021[9]
Alex StorakoCo-Big Ten Pitcher of the WeekApril 20, 2021[10]
Alex StorakoBig Ten Pitcher of the WeekApril 27, 2021[11]
Meghan BeaubienCo-Big Ten Pitcher of the WeekMay 11, 2021[12]
Julia JimenezCo-Big Ten Player of the Week
Meghan BeaubienBig Ten Pitcher of the WeekMay 18, 2021[13]
Individual Awards
PlayerAwardRef.
Lexie BlairBig Ten Player of the Year[14]
Alex StorakoBig Ten Pitcher of the Year
Carol HutchinsBig Ten Coach of the Year
All-Big Ten
PlayerSelectionRef.
Lou AllanFirst Team[15]
Meghan BeaubienFirst Team
Lexie BlairFirst Team
Taylor BumpFirst Team
Alex StorakoFirst Team
Julia JimenezSecond Team
Taylor BumpAll-Defensive
Natalia RodriguezAll-Defensive

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Big Ten, Michigan Cancel Remainder of Winter and Spring Sports Seasons . . MGoBlue.com . March 11, 2020. January 28, 2021.
  2. Web site: 2021 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches poll (Preseason) . NFCA.org . National Fastpitch Coaches Association . January 26, 2021 . January 28, 2021.
  3. Web site: 2021 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings . D1Softball.com . January 18, 2021 . January 28, 2021.
  4. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203141422/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls. dead. February 3, 2021. teamusa.org. USA Softball. January 26, 2021. January 28, 2021.
  5. Web site: 2021 NCAA Division I Softball Top 25. softballamerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises. February 1, 2021. February 2, 2021.
  6. Web site: Four-Game Series Between Michigan and Michigan State Postponed . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . March 31, 2021 . March 31, 2021.
  7. Web site: Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Northwestern Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210302211300/https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/2/general-michigan-michigan-state-nebraska-and-northwestern-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . March 2, 2021 . BigTen.org . March 2, 2021 . March 2, 2021.
  8. Web site: Michigan, Nebraska and Northwestern Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210330200114/https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/30/general-michigan-nebraska-and-northwestern-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . March 30, 2021 . BigTen.org . March 30, 2021 . March 30, 2021.
  9. Web site: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Nebraska Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210413200031/https://bigten.org/news/2021/4/13/general-maryland-michigan-minnesota-and-nebraska-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . April 13, 2021 . BigTen.org . April 13, 2021 . April 13, 2021.
  10. Web site: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420200031/https://bigten.org/news/2021/4/20/general-illinois-indiana-michigan-minnesota-and-northwestern-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . April 20, 2021 . BigTen.org . April 20, 2021 . April 20, 2021.
  11. Web site: Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427200208/https://bigten.org/news/2021/4/27/general-iowa-michigan-and-ohio-state-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . April 27, 2021 . BigTen.org . April 27, 2021 . April 27, 2021.
  12. Web site: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511201257/https://bigten.org/news/2021/5/11/general-indiana-iowa-maryland-and-michigan-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . May 11, 2021 . BigTen.org . May 11, 2021 . May 11, 2021.
  13. Web site: Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518200057/https://bigten.org/news/2021/5/18/general-michigan-minnesota-and-northwestern-earn-big-ten-weekly-softball-awards.aspx . dead . May 18, 2021 . BigTen.org . May 18, 2021 . May 18, 2021.
  14. Web site: Blair, Storako, Hutchins Earn Top Honors; U-M Puts Five on All-Big Ten First Team . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . May 19, 2021 . May 19, 2021.
  15. Web site: Big Ten Announces 2021 Softball Postseason Honors . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519183049/https://bigten.org/news/2021/5/19/general-big-ten-announces-2021-softball-postseason-honors.aspx . dead . May 19, 2021 . BigTen.org . May 19, 2021 . May 19, 2021.
  16. Web site: Storako Named to NFCA All-America Second Team . . MGoBlue.com . Leah . Howard . June 2, 2021 . June 2, 2021.