Top of the Order Pushes U-M Past Bowling Green

Wednesday, March 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

25-4

Bowling Green

7-13

Bowling Green

Michigan

3/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 18, 2015

• Box Score | Notes & Quotes

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Softball Complex)
Score: #4 Michigan 8, Bowling Green 1
Records: U-M (25-4), Bowling Green (7-13)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 20 -- vs. Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 6 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With eight hits from the top of its order, the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan softball team cruised to an 8-1 win over the Bowling Green Falcons on Wednesday (March 18) afternoon at Alumni Field inside the Wilpon Complex.

Junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence and sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner matched their career bests with three hits apiece, including a two-run home run from Christner in the fourth inning. Junior second baseman Sierra Romero also knocked out a fourth-inning bomb as part of a 2-for-2 effort with two runs batted. The trio scored all eight runs for the Wolverines.

Senior LHP Haylie Wagner (10-2) got the win, striking out five batters through five innings. She allowed just two hits, including a solo home run, and a walk.

Lawrence opened the game with a hit up the middle before swiping second for her 15th steal of the season. With the bases loaded and no outs, freshman first baseman/RHP Tera Blanco delivered a two-run-scoring single through the left side. U-M tacked on another run on an RBI groundout from freshman designated player Amanda Vargas.

Blanco recorded her third RBI on a groundout in the second, and junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla drove in another with a run-scoring double to right centerfield.

Bowling Green got on the board on first baseman Kayla Koch's leadoff home run in the third, but U-M responded with two of its own in the next inning. After a leadoff infield single from Lawrence, Christner homered to leftfield -- her second long ball in as many games. Romero took the next pitch deep, rocketing a solo shot to the top row of the grandstand beyond right centerfield.

Blanco took over the circle in the sixth inning, allowing two hits and a walk through two shutout innings.

The Wolverines will open Big Ten Conference play this weekend, heading to Columbus, Ohio, to face rival Ohio State for a three-game set at Buckeye Field. U-M will kick off the series at 6 p.m. on Friday (March 20).

N O T E S

• With today's win, the Wolverines improves to 31-5 in the all-time series against Bowling Green.

• Sophomore Kelly Christner boasts four three-hit games this season, while junior Sierra Lawrence owns three -- and 11 in her career. Christner, Lawrence and junior Sierra Romero lead the Wolverines with 12 multi-hit games this season.

• Christner has recorded five hits over the last two games.

• Romero upped her career RBI total to 177 and needs just one more to reach the No. 4 spot among U-M's all-time leaders in the category, currently held by Dorian Shaw (178, 2008-11).

• Romero has reached based in 27 of 29 games this season.

Q U O T E S

U-M Junior Sierra Romero
On the difference in hitting since Kent State ... "Since the Kent State game, I was a little frustrated with my hitting. I didn't perform as well as I wanted to perform. At the same time, I'm not always going to do well. I always want to do well. This entire week I've just worked on getting my hands to the ball and not letting it jam me or getting too deep -- just playing relax. Every time I get tensed up or mad, I end up popping up."

On what felt good today ... "I just want to stay relaxed. That's my biggest thing. The home run that I hit, I didn't even feel like I swung hard, yet the ball went so far. I just need to stay relaxed, because I just get so competitive and I want to hit the ball hard, but I try too much. That's what I'm going to focus on the entire season, because that's when I hit the best."

On upcoming Big Ten play ... "I think everyone's really excited. We have a lot of freshmen too, and they're excited to come in. The first game is against Ohio State; what better way to start it. I'm excited, I'm excited to get on the bus and go."

U-M Sophomore Kelly Christner
On the difference in mentality since playing Kent State ... "I think today was big in getting our confidence back and realizing that no matter who's pitching just stay in our process and stay calm. Good things will happen. It's not just the pitchers that we're facing, but how we react to the pitchers we're facing. We were just over thinking over the weekend. We just went out, seeing the ball and hitting it."

On the intensity of Coach Hutchins as Big Ten play gets closer ... "I think she's pretty much the same all season. She realizes that preseason is just as important as Big Ten play, even as we get closer to post-season."

Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423