Betsa Fans 20 in Doubleheader Sweep against Iowa

Saturday, March 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

30-4, 4-0

Iowa

10-25, 1-5

Iowa

Michigan

3/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

March 28, 2015

• Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2
• Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #4 Michigan 6, Iowa 0; #4 Michigan 7, Iowa 4
Records: U-M (31-4, 5-0 Big Ten), Iowa (10-26, 1-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 29 -- vs. Iowa (Wilpon Complex), 3 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa was spectacular from the pitching circle, striking out 20 batters through nine innings, to headline the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 6-0, 7-4 doubleheader sweep against Iowa on Saturday afternoon (March 28) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

Betsa (14-2) registered a career-best 16 strikeouts in the opener, striking out the side in the first, second, fourth and seventh innings while scattering three hits and a walk en route to her second straight complete-game shutout and third this season. She added four strikeouts in two scoreless relief innings in the nightcap to claim her second career save. Senior LHP Haylie Wagner (13-2) earned the game-two victory, striking out four while allowing four runs off six hits and a pair of walks.

Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner extended her hit streak to eight consecutive games with a home run in each contest, circling the bases for a solo inside-the-parker in the first slate before knocking out a three-run bomb in the second. Junior second baseman Sierra Romero also posted multiple extra-base hits with a pair of doubles and a triple on the day; she cleared the bases with a three-run double in the nightcap.

Michigan took advantage of Hawkeye pitching miscues to plate three runs in the first inning, drawing back-to-back bases-loaded walks before pushing across another on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. The Wolverines recorded their first hit of the contest in the second -- a first-pitch line single to leftfield from junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla -- to score Christner from second base.

After striking out the side in the first, Betsa struggled early in the second, putting two runners in scoring position on a hit batter, single up the middle and wild pitch. She regained her composure after a meeting in the circle, punching out back-to-back batters before ending the inning on a three-pitch strikeout. Betsa added two more strikeouts in the third and three in the fourth to up her total to 11 through four frames.

Romero's base running manufactured a run for the Wolverines in the bottom of the fourth. After walking and stealing second, the Wolverine junior advanced to third after getting caught in a rundown off a comebacker to the circle. She stole home during the next at-bat, successfully converting on a double steal attempt with freshman pinch runner Nikki Wald.

Christner capped the Wolverines' game-one offensive output with her inside-the-park home run in the sixth inning on a high fly ball into right centerfield. The Hawkeye centerfielder covered the ground to get underneath the ball but ran hard into the wall as it reached her glove as it popped out, and Christner rounded the bases to score.

The Wolverine leftfielder's home run in the second slate came with greater stakes. With U-M trailing, 4-3, in the fifth inning -- and with two runners aboard after back-to-back singles from sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez and centerfielder Sierra Lawrence -- Christner bombed out a three-run blast over the wall in deep centerfield. Romero chipped a half-swing triple to the rightfield wall in the next at-bat, and senior pinch hitter Lauren Sweet, making her first appearance in seven games, drove her home on a soft groundout down the first baseline.

Michigan also trailed early in the contest when Romero drove in three on her bases-clearing double -- a screamer down the leftfield line and into the corner -- in the third inning.

The Hawkeyes retook the lead in the top of the fifth, plating three runs off four hits and an intentional walk and setting the stage for U-M's rally in the home half.

Betsa entered in the top of the sixth and, after walking the first batter she faced, issued back-to-back punchouts before fielding a comebacker to the circle. She added two more strikeouts in the seventh to put the game away.

Michigan will wrap up the weekend series against Iowa tomorrow (Sunday, March 29) with a 3 p.m. slate at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The game will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.

N O T E S

• With today's wins, Michigan improved to 54-53-1 in the all-time series against Iowa. U-M has won six straight in the series. The Hawkeyes had previously held the series advantage since 1986.

• Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa's previous single-game high was 14 strikeouts, which she tallied twice this season -- vs. Hampton (Feb. 8) and at Ohio State (March 20). She boasts five double-digit strikeout games this season, including three of her last four starts. She has stuck out 53 batters over her last 28 innings.

• Sophomore Kelly Christner has hit .577 (15-for-26) over her current eight-game hitting streak with five home runs, two doubles and 11 RBI.

• Christner has a home run in each of the last five home games. She is hitting .611 at home this season.

• Junior Sierra Romero upped her career RBI total to 186, moving to third among U-M's all-time leaders in the category. She is 14 shy of the second spot, currently held by Amanda Chidester (2000, 2009-12).

• Romero also claimed a share of the second spot among U-M's career walks leaders, where she is tied with Samantha Findlay (2005-08) with 157. She is 21 shy of record holder Dorian Shaw (178, 2008-11).

• Romero has reached base in 33 of 35 games this season.

• Senior LHP Haylie Wagner earned her 88th career win in the nightcap, moving to fifth among U-M's all-time wins leaders. She shares the spot with Marissa Young (2000-03) and needs four more to reach the fourth spot, currently held by volunteer coach Nikki Nemitz (92, 2008-11).

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On the Wolverines' base running ... "I thought our base running and our defense, led by Megan Betsa, was good. We manufactured runs; we didn't hit runs. We scored our first three runs without hitting it out of the infield. With that being said, we found a way to manufacture some runs. There were some brilliant base running moves from Romo [Sierra Romero]; she ran than pickle between second and third perfectly. It could have been a disaster, but she ran it well. She makes things happen."

On the Wolverines' hitting ... "I thought we were a little scattered and weren't as locked in as we needed to be. That showed early in the second game. We didn't lock in or see the ball well. In the first game, their pitcher didn't give us a lot of hit, so we really got out of a rhythm and didn't seem to know when to swing. We need to be better at that."

On RHP Megan Betsa's performance ... "She has worked really hard. The thing with working hard, it doesn't entitle you to achieve success, because you still need to show up today and work hard and then show up tomorrow and work hard -- whether you were good yesterday or bad. She has figured that out a little bit. We needed to keep her warm between innings, but she had to find a way to stay locked in. I thought she got better with that. She figured out what she needed to go and she did it. I've been really pleased with Betsa, because she has matured. All my sophomores have matured and they work hard every day."

U-M Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa
On her improvement over the course of the season ... "I think my confidence level has gotten better over the course of the year. That was an area that I struggled with last year, so I'm just going out there mentally tough and trying to be one-pitch better than the opponent. I think I'm getting better with each outing. The big part is trying to be 'as good.' So, if I do get the ball at any point tomorrow, I can't be focused on trying to strike out 16 batters."

On making it look easy today ... "It's never as easy as it looks. It may have looked easy, but seeing hitters 2-3 times a game, they're adjusting to what I'm throwing, and I have to find a way to keep them off balance and get ahead of them. That's what I strive to do. I focus on the next batter, not what I've already done."

On entering in relief in the second game ... "They told me to be ready just in case. I took that time to get my head right and know I have a chance to help my team win the game. It's difficult, but a lot of things we do are difficult and they prepare us for those situations. Going from being a starter to a reliever, that's part of my job. I'm supposed to go out there and get outs either way."

U-M Junior Second Baseman Sierra Romero
On breaking through late in the second game ... "Hitting is very contagious. It's all about how you respond. So, after they came back with those four runs, we knew we had to respond. They quicker you respond shows the other team that you're not backing down and you're out there to win the game. That creates a spark for the team. That's what we needed, and that's what we did."

On hitting prowess throughout the lineup taking pressure off her ... "I don't feel like I have any pressure on me at all, especially this year. Our lineup is ridiculous, just the range we have from power hitting to the ability to drop it down. If I'm not able to get it done, I know somebody else will. That takes pressure off me."

On Megan Betsa's performance ... "I'm so impressed with her. Her demeanor on the field has been absolutely amazing. The game starts with your pitcher and the tone she sets. She has the ball in her hand every single pitch, so you go based on how she's doing. Whether she's doing good or bad, she doesn't show it; she's just focused on the next pitch. I can't tell you how much that helps our team. It makes us want to get more runs for her."

On battling through cold weather ... "Weather is never an excuse, but it does make it a lot harder. It hurts to swings the bat; it hurts to put your hand in your glove. We did the best we could to stay warm and have fun, and we did. It's a mental game. You can't let the fact that it's cold determine how you play. That's what makes us so mentally tough."

Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423