Wolverines Fall in Series Opener at No. 14 Minnesota

Friday, April 3

Minneapolis, Minn.

6:00 PM CT

Michigan

31-6, 5-2

Minnesota

30-5, 6-1

Michigan

Minnesota

4/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 3, 2015

Sierra Romero

• Box Score

Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Jane Sage Cowles Stadium)
Score: #14 Minnesota 9, #4 Michigan 1 (6 inn.)
Records: U-M (31-6, 5-2 Big Ten), MINN (30-5, 6-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 4 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1 p.m. CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan softball team struggled in all areas in its series opener against No. 14 Minnesota, falling, 9-1, in six innings, on Friday evening (April 3) at the Golden Gophers' Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. It was the Wolverines' first run-rule defeat of the season.

The Wolverines managed just four hits against Minnesota ace Sara Groenewegen and matched a season high with 10 strikeouts. Junior second baseman Sierra Romero went 2-for-2 and drove in U-M's lone run on a third-inning single.

Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa (14-4) allowed nine runs -- four earned -- off nine hits and five walks through 5.2 innings. She struck out eight Gopher batters.

Michigan knotted up the game in the top of the third, manufacturing the tying run on a leadoff walk and a pair of singles. Sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez reached on a bunt single, advanced on a fielder's choice and scored when Romero looped a single to shallow leftfield.

The Golden Gophers retook the lead in the home half of the inning, taking advantage of back-to-back walks to lead off the frame with a two-run line-drive single to centerfield. They plated another on a wild pitch high to the backstop.

Minnesota knocked out a two-out solo home run in the fourth -- its second long ball of the contest -- and ended the contest early with a four-run sixth, pushing across a run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch before adding three more on a throwing error following an infield single.

Michigan will resume its series at Minnesota tomorrow (Saturday, April 4), taking on the Golden Gophers at 1 p.m. CDT at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minnesota, Minnesota. The game will air live on BTN2Go.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423