Betsa's No-Hitter, Christner's Two Bombs Lead Wolverines Past MSU

Wednesday, April 15

East Lansing, Mich.

4:30 PM

Michigan

38-6, 11-2

Michigan State

16-26, 1-12

Michigan

Michigan State

Megan Betsa

Betsa's No-Hitter, Christner's Two Bombs Lead Wolverines Past MSU

4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Notes and Quotes

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Secchia Stadium)
Score: #4 Michigan 10, Michigan State 0 (5 innings)
Records: U-M (38-6, 11-2 Big Ten), MSU (16-26, 1-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 17 -- vs. Indiana (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa threw her second collegiate no-hitter, while sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner bombed out two home runs -- including a fifth-inning grand slam -- to headline the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 10-0, five-inning win against in-state rival Michigan State on Wednesday afternoon (April 15) at the Spartans' Secchia Stadium.

Betsa (18-4) faced just two batters over the minimum of 15 in a five-inning game, allowing base runners on a second-inning walk and a leadoff fielding error -- on herself -- in the fourth. She fanned six Spartan batters, including two apiece in the second and third innings.

Christner headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts, going 2-for-3 with a career-best five runs batted in and her second two-homer performance in four games. Senior catcher Lauren Sweet and sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano also posted a hit and an RBI apiece.

After going down quietly in the first and second innings, the Wolverines broke open the scoreless game in the third, taking advantage of MSU miscues to manufacture five runs. Junior second baseman Sierra Romero worked her way around the bases to plate Michigan's first run, reaching on a hit-by-pitch, advancing on a steal and a throwing error and scoring when the Spartans' reliever threw her first pitch to the backstop. Christner reached third on the same play and scored on Sweet's deep sac fly to centerfield.

Montemarano registered the Wolverines' lone hit of the third -- a screaming double that kicked up chalk down the leftfield line and rolled into the corner to score junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla from first base. U-M added two more two-out runs on a pair of tough grounders to the right side; both were ruled errors when the Spartan second baseman failed to cleanly field the ball.

Christner pushed the game into run-rule territory with home runs in each of her next two plate appearances. She snapped her one-game home run drought with a solo shot in the fourth, fouling off a few before bombing one over the rightfield fence. She drove in four more in the fifth, finding the same spot beyond the fence with bases loaded for her first collegiate grand slam.

Needing just three outs to complete the no-hitter, Betsa set the Spartans down in order in the home half of the fifth, forcing a popup to second and groundout to third before issuing a game-ending strikeout.

The Wolverines return home for their next five games, kicking off the homestand with a three-game weekend set against Indiana at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. U-M will open the series at 6 p.m. on Friday (April 17).

Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423