Wolverines Put Seven on NFCA All-Region First Team

May 14, 2015

Softball photo

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Eight members of the University of Michigan softball team earned NFCA All-Great Lakes Region accolades, including seven who were named to the region's first team, the organization announced on Thursday (May 14). U-M was one of three programs nationally to place eight players on the all-region teams and led the nation with its seven first-team nods.

The awards honor softball student-athletes from the association's 10 regions with first, second and third teams selected for each region. The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2015 NFCA Division I All-America teams.

The 2015 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, via NFCA.org.

Michigan's first-team selections are sophomore RHP Megan Betsa, senior LHP Haylie Wagner, senior catcher Lauren Sweet, junior second baseman Sierra Romero, sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner, junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence and junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla. Sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez was named to the third team.

The 2015 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Betsa has paced the Wolverine team this season with a 26-4 record, 1.44 earned-run average, 275 strikeouts and 10 complete-game shutouts. The Wolverine hurler owns a pair of no-hitters on the season and 11 double-digit strikeout performances on the season, ranking third nationally with 11.3 strikeouts per game.

Wagner owns a 21-2 record with a 1.70 ERA, 110 strikeouts and three complete-game shutouts. An All-Big Ten first team selection -- and 2014 NFCA All-America second team pick -- Wagner has allowed just four runs over her last 34 innings. With wins in her last 11 starts and a win in relief against Michigan State, Wagner moved to second all-time with a career .850 winning percentage; she is 96-17 over her four seasons.

Sweet is enjoying a career year as a senior, boasting career bests with a .323 average, 11 home runs and 47 runs batted in this season. An All-Big Ten second team choice, Sweet also backstops a Wolverine pitching staff that ranks second in the country with a 1.48 ERA. She has caught a pair of no-hitters this season.

Headlining the Wolverines' contingent of power hitters, Romero boasts a team-leading .469 batting average, 20 home runs, 74 RBI, .979 slugging percentage and .624 on-base percentage, ranking among the nation's top 10 in nearly all those categories. A unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection and the inaugural espnW Softball Player of the Year, Romero also owns 51 walks to just seven strikeouts on the season. She is a two-time NFCA All-American, earning first team honors last season.

A unanimous All-Big Ten first team and defensive team selection, Christner leads the Wolverines with 74 hits this season and ranks second with a .420 average, 18 homers and 56 RBI in her first full season in the Michigan lineup. She also leads the team with 25 multi-hit games and boasts an incredible .556 average at home this season.

Lawrence has started nearly every game this season from the leadoff spot, registering a career-high .369 average with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 50 RBI. An All-Big Ten second team and defensive team selection, she ranks among U-M's leaders with 19 multi-hit games and 16 multi-RBI games.

Susalla, who converted herself to outfield during the offseason, is enjoying a career year in her first season in the Wolverine starting lineup. She ranks third on the team with a .373 average with 12 doubles, 12 home runs and 52 RBI while currently hitting in the No. 4 spot in the lineup.

Ramirez, an All-Big Ten second team selection, is batting .364 with 12 extra-base hits, including two homers and 20 RBI from the No. 9 position. She boasted a career-long 11-game hit streak during the heart of the Big Ten season.

The Wolverines will host an NCAA Regional for 12th time in 14 years, welcoming California, Pittsburgh and Oakland to the Wilpon Softball Complex this weekend (Fri-Sun., May 15-17). Michigan opens play against Oakland at 6 p.m. on Friday evening. [ Tickets | Regional Central ]

ALL-GREAT LAKES REGION

First Team

Position	Player	School
Pitcher	Megan Betsa	Michigan
Pitcher	Haylie Wagner	Michigan
Catcher	Lauren Sweet	Michigan
First Base	Kaitlyn Richardson	Minnesota
Second Base	Sierra Romero	Michigan
Third Base	Sam Macken	Minnesota
Shortstop	Andrea Filler	Northwestern
Outfield	Kelly Christner	Michigan
Outfield	Sierra Lawrence	Michigan
Outfield	Kelsey Susalla	Michigan
Utility/Pitcher	Sara Groenewegen	Minnesota
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher	Mary Connolly	DePaul

Second Team

Position	Player	School
Pitcher	Kristen Wood	Northwestern
Pitcher	Nicole Sleith	Robert Morris
Catcher	Erin Burner	St. John's
First Base	Kayti Grable	Northern Illinois
Second Base	Danielle Parlich	Minnesota
Third Base	Tiana Mack-Miller	Illinois at Chicago
Shortstop	Tyler Walker	Minnesota
Outfield	Sabrina Rabin	Northwestern
Outfield	Jackie Bates	Rutgers
Outfield	Andrea DiPrima	Northwestern
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher	Hannah Granger	Minnesota

Third Team

Position	Player	School
Pitcher	Rachel Knapp	Central Michigan
Pitcher	Nicole Steinbach	Ball State
Pitcher	Tori Free	St. John's
Pitcher	Elaine Heflin	Illinois at Chicago
Catcher	Taylor LeMay	Minnesota
First Base	Katelyn Rentschler	Central Michigan
First Base	Julia Kuhn	Northwestern
Second Base	Emily Dabkowski	Ball State
Third Base	Jordan Whitley	Rutgers
Shortstop	Abby Ramirez	Michigan
Outfield	Lexi Knief	Pennsylvania State
Outfield	Hanne Stuedemann	Ball State
Outfield	Jessica Berzins	Canisius College
Outfield	Taylor Parsons	St Francis
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher	Amy Letourneau	Northwestern