Betsa Fans 15 in No-Hitter at Maryland

Sunday, April 26

College Park, Md.

1:00 PM

Michigan

45-6, 0

Maryland

26-24, 0

Michigan

Maryland

Megan Betsa

4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

Site: College Park, Md. (Maryland Softball Complex)
Score: #4 Michigan 1, Maryland 0
Records: U-M (45-6, 18-2 Big Ten), Maryland (26-24, 8-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 1 -- vs. Penn State (Wilpon Complex), 5:30 p.m.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa earned her second no-hitter in less than two weeks' time to headline the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 1-0 victory at Maryland on Sunday afternoon (April 26) at the Maryland Softball Complex. With the win, the Wolverines swept the three-game road series against the Big Ten Conference newcomer.

Betsa faced two batters over the minimum 21, issuing leadoff walks in the second and sixth innings. She fanned 15 Terrapins batters -- just one shy of her career best -- and, with U-M clinging to its narrow 1-0 lead, struck out the side in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner and senior catcher Lauren Sweet headlined the Wolverine offense with two hits apiece, while junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla pushed across the contest's lone run on a fourth-inning single. The Wolverines tallied just six hits and left five stranded.

Maryland's best opportunity came after the leadoff walk in the second, advancing the runner to scoring position with a subsequent sac bunt. Betsa responded with back-to-back strikeouts -- on just eight pitches -- to end the threat.

Christner initiated the Wolverine rally in the fourth, ripping a leadoff double into the left-centerfield gap and advancing to third when the Terp leftfielder bobbled the ball. She came home when Susalla knocked a single into rightfield in the next at-bat.

The Wolverines also tallied hits in the fifth and sixth innings but went down in order in the top of the seventh. With just three outs remaining, Betsa fanned the first Terp batters -- on four pitches apiece -- before dealing a game-ending punchout.

The Wolverines will return home next weekend for their final series of the regular season, hosting Penn State for a three-game set at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. U-M will kick off the series at 5:30 p.m. on Friday (May 1).

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On Michigan manufacturing runs over the weekend ... "It's a big park. Their fences are deep and high. You have to really park it to get it over. We hit a few home runs; we certainly weren't denied that. The bottom of the order really came through on Friday -- Abby (Ramirez), Tera (Blanco) and Aidan (Falk). We take turns. It's not always the same people."

On the Wolverine pitching staff this weekend ... "Maryland can swing it. They're got some hitters in that lineup with good averages, and they've scored a lot of runs throughout the season. We gave up two earned runs all weekend. I thought both of our pitchers did their part really well. They stuck to their game plan. Both pitched very well. I was very pleased to see that."

On Megan Betsa's no-hitter ... "We were holding a 1-0 lead. That's a pressure situation. She was just really in her moment. She attacked the hitters. She picked the team up in the seventh. She just did a great job."

U-M Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa
On her second no-hitter in two weeks ... "It was a full seven innings, so it was a complete game. I just felt like I threw a better game all around. I stayed focused the entire time; my mind didn't wander at any point. That was big."

On throwing in a one-run game ... "It makes me better. I like pitching in games like that more than blowout games. It makes me tougher and makes me a better player. It certainly helps keep me focused."

N O T E S

• Michigan improved to 12-2 in the all-time series against Maryland. U-M has won four straight in the series.

• U-M has claimed all seven Big Ten series so far this season, including sweeps against Ohio State, Rutgers, Indiana, Michigan State and Maryland.

• Michigan is 6-1 in one-run games this season.

• Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa collected her third career no-hitter -- and her first that went a full seven innings. She also tallied a five-inning no-hitter less than two weeks ago at Michigan State (April 15) and last season in five innings against Detroit.

• Betsa boasts 10 double-digit strikeout games this season, including four of her last seven. She struck out 22 in the weekend series vs. Maryland. She has only allowed six runs in her last 45 innings pitched.

• Sophomore Kelly Christner leads the Wolverines with 22 multi-hit games.