ANN ARBOR, Mich. - No. 17 Michigan (28-7, 4-1 B1G) held off the bats of Purdue (8-27, 1-5 B1G) all game long to defeat the Boilermakers 6-0 at the Wilpon Complex. The game was a one-run contest until a grand slam broke the game open, fueling a five-run fifth inning for the Wolverines.
Purdue threatened to score in the third and fourth with runners in scoring position but the Wolverines managed to work their way out of both jams without giving up a run. Stephanie Ramsey kicked off the third with a leadoff double but Michigan was able to retire the next three batters in order. In the fourth, a walk by Jenny Behan and back-to-back two-out singles by Halle Hixenbaugh and Siena Wagner loaded the bases forcing Michigan to make a pitching change. However, going to Meghan Beaubien out of the bullpen paid off as she was able to get a ground ball in the ensuing at-bat and deliver 3.1 scoreless innings.
Morgan Cavinder came off the bench for the Boilermakers and managed the only success Purdue had against the freshman ace. She worked an eight-pitch walk in the fifth and later roped a two-out double to right-center in the seventh.
Redshirt freshman Sydney Bates had a gem going against the Wolverines as she allowed just one run in the first four innings until Michigan's big five-run fifth. Kaitlynn Moody was called upon to get Purdue out of the frame and delivered 1.2 innings of shutout ball to finish the game.
Purdue begins an six-game homestand Wednesday against Fort Wayne at 4 p.m. ET.
