Wolverines Overwhelm County Rival EMU in Five Innings

Tuesday, April 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

34-6

Eastern Michigan

9-22

Eastern Michigan

Michigan

Wolverines Overwhelm County Rival EMU in Five Innings

4/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

April 7, 2015

• Box Score | Photo Gallery | Notes & Quotes

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Softball Complex)
Score: #4 Michigan 11, Eastern Michigan 1 (5 inn.)
Records: U-M (34-6), EMU (9-22)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 10 -- at Rutgers (Piscataway, N.J.), 3 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan softball team overwhelmed Washtenaw County rival Eastern Michigan from the plate and circle en route to an 11-1, five-inning victory on Tuesday evening (April 7) at Alumni Field inside of the Wilpon Complex. It is the Wolverines' second straight run-rule win.

Six Wolverines recorded hits, including junior second baseman Sierra Romero, sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner and junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla, who tallied two hits apiece. Christner and Susalla also recorded two runs batted in, as did sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano.

Senior LHP Haylie Wagner (15-2) celebrated her birthday with a one-hit complete-game performance. Wagner posted six strikeouts and was perfect after allowing a first-inning two-out solo home run.

The Eagles' rightfielder Michelle Kriegshauser spoiled Wagner's perfect game with a line-drive blast over the leftfield fence in the top of the first inning. But the Wolverines dominated the remainder of the contest, answering immediately with a three-run bottom half. Romero posted the first Wolverine hit of the game, scoring junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence on a hard hit up the middle. Michigan added two more runs when Romero scored on a throwing error, and Christner crossed the plate on a Susalla RBI single through the right side.

The Wolverines took advantage of another EMU error to plate a run in the second before Montemarano smacked an RBI double into leftfield.

U-M extended their lead in the third when sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez slapped a hard RBI single up the middle. Christner drove in two more on a double to the centerfield fence and scored, pushing the game run-rule territory, when Susalla singled to rightfield in the next at-bat. Susalla scored on a subsequent sac fly.

Michigan walked in another run in the bottom of the fourth, before Wagner closed out the game with a 13-pitch fifth, striking out two Eagle batters while throwing out another at first base.

Michigan will open a three-game weekend series against the Scarlet Knights on Friday (April 10) at 3 p.m. in Piscataway, New Jersey.

N O T E S

• With today's win, Michigan improved to 57-8 in the all-time series against Eastern Michigan. U-M has won 33 straight in the series.

• The Wolverines own 16 run-rule decisions this season.

• Sophomore Kelly Christner has hit .560 (14-for-15) through nine home games, boasting two doubles, six home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.360 slugging percentage.

• Senior LHP Haylie Wagner owns two complete-game one-hitters this season and five in her career. She also held Western Kentucky to one hit in an 8-0, five-inning decision at the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 13).

• With six strikeouts tonight, Wagner upped her career total to 465, moving to the seventh position among U-M's all-time leaders in the category. She is tied with Kelly Kovach (1992-95). She is a ways from the sixth spot, currently held by Sara Griffin (602, 1995-98).

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
On playing aggressive at home ... "They came out aggressive today. I was happy to see that. We love aggressive. I thought we were better dialed in today, or we came out aggressive then dialed in. You don't want to make it about home or away; you just want to be about the game."

On taking momentum from this game into the weekend ... "This is over. It won't help us unless we do it this weekend. I'd like to see us take bases and pound the ball in the ground. We didn't hit it over the fence at all and got 11 runs. I like to see us score runs. We scored runs in every inning. But that was today. I'd like to see them ready to play, aggressive and dialed in. That's the only thing they can control."

On LHP Haylie Wagner's recent outings ... "She's still working on her posture as she throws every pitch, but she's been persevering a little bit better and her confidence is better. Those are the most important qualities -- more than the physical nature of pitching."

U-M Senior LHP Haylie Wagner
On being perfect after the first-inning EMU home run ... "I was just focused on attacking the hitters and finishing my pitches. After that [home run], I was focused on that and making the ball move. It's cool to get a win on my birthday."

On looking ahead to Rutgers ... "I just want to go after them and have same mindset and attack mode. Every team is a good team and every hitter can hit, so if I don't have my A game, they're going to hit me. I just need to go after them."

Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423