Sweet, Betsa Garner Big Ten Weekly Accolades
2/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2015
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan softball team claimed a pair of Big Ten Conference weekly awards in recognition of its weekend sweep at the Unconquered Invitational, the league office announced Monday (Feb. 16). Senior catcher Lauren Sweet garnered Co-Big Ten Payer of the Week, while sophomore RHP Megan Betsa was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. The weekly honors are the first the Wolverines this season.
Sweet paced the Wolverine offensive efforts in the tournament appearances (Fri-Sun, Feb. 13-15), batting .500 (5-for-10) with nine runs batted in and five runs scored. Against Georgia Tech, she knocked out her second collegiate grand slam as part of a career-best five-RBI effort. She drove in the winning runs in both of U-M's games against No. 6 Florida State, tallying a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning in the first slate and a two-run single in the third in the nightcap. It is Sweet's second career Big Ten Player of the Week award and her third weekly conference honor.
Betsa was stellar from the circle, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.60 earned-run average, 17 strikeouts strikeouts and just one run allowed through 11.2 innings pitched. She factored in both of U-M's wins against the Seminoles, earning her first collegiate save after entering in the seventh with one and runners on second and third in the first game before striking out five in a complete-game two-hitter in the nightcap. She also struck out 11 in a complete-game one-hit shutout against Georgia Tech. It is Betsa's first Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award and second weekly honor of her career.
The Wolverines will head to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the annual Easton Bama Bash next weekend (Fri-Sun., Feb. 20-22), opening play against Lipscomb (1:30 p.m. CST) and host Alabama (4 p.m.) on Friday at Rhoads Stadium.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
