Kornacki: Lawrence, Susalla Provide Biggest Hits in Regional Win
5/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Two swings of the bat on Sunday (May 17) put Michigan's softball team two wins away from Oklahoma City.
Kelsey Susalla's three-run homer was the big blow in a five-run first inning, and Sierra Lawrence's three-run double in the third capped a two-out rally. Those timely blasts propelled the No. 3-seeded Wolverines (54-6) to a 10-3 win over Pittsburgh in the NCAA Regional championship game.
Michigan now advances to play No. 14 Georgia (44-15) and hosts a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional next weekend. The winner of that series moves on to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma. The series is scheduled for Thursday (9 p.m., ESPN2) and Friday (6 p.m., ESPNU), with an if-necessary game Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
Lawrence and Susalla are having outstanding seasons but don't often get the credit they deserve on a team that features espnW national Player of the Year Sierra Romero and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Megan Betsa.
And while Betsa, coming on in relief of Haylie Wagner to shut the door on the Panthers with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless pitching, and Romero were significant to the victory, the game-changing moments belonged to Lawrence and Susalla.
Lawrence came up big in the exact same game last season, hitting a game-tying solo homer in the seventh inning of the NCAA Regional title game that the Wolverines won, 5-4, against host Arizona State.
After falling behind in the count, 0-2, to Pitt pitcher Kayla Harris in the third inning today, Lawrence evened the count to 2-2 before driving a pitch off the wall in center to clear the bases.
"I just stay one-pitch focused," said Lawrence. "I don't think that I ever realized I had two strikes. I'm just going up there to get a hit."
The Wolverines were designated the "visiting" team for tournament purposes, and for the first time this season at Alumni Field they batted first in the game. Lawrence got that opportunity to score first off to a great start by leading off with an opposite-field double.
"She's our spark, she's our leadoff hitter, and she makes things happen for us," said Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins. "We were the visiting team, and I hoped we'd come out and attack. And she started the whole thing. A five-run first inning -- that's a big deal. It puts opponents on their heels. We call on her for that, and she does a great job with it."
Lawrence, a sophomore from Snellville, Georgia, was an All-Big Ten second team selection and an all-conference defensive team pick in center field. She's also batting .367 with 23 steals in 24 attempts and has outstanding power. Her 14 homers and 56 runs batted in rank third on the team in both categories behind Romero and left fielder Kelly Christner.
Susalla, a junior who provided power off the bench her first two seasons, has blossomed as the regular right fielder. The slugger from Garden City, Michigan, is batting .369 with 13 homers and 55 RBI.
"I have been Kelsey's biggest fan all year," said Hutchins. "I've watched her work hard every day. And we gave her what I think is the most prestigious award we give out in the season -- the Maize and Blue Award, which is basically the coach's award. She comes in every day and makes the coach happy with her work ethic and desire to help Michigan. I can't say enough about her."
Susalla's homer against Pitt set the tone, and she couldn't recall hitting one that got out faster. The screaming laser cleared the right field wall by no more than two feet.
"When I hit it," said Susalla, "I didn't know if it was going to go out because it came off the bat so hard. It was a quick one to get out for sure."
Lawrence and Susalla came off the field, arms around shoulders, after the celebration on the mound following the final out. They've developed a special camaraderie with the other starting outfielder, Christner.
"We've really created a bond out there," said Susalla. "And this year because I'm kind of the new one in the outfield, they've really helped me. We really have a bond and a friendship out there."
Lawrence said, "We just have fun and pick the other person up when they're down."
And that's what Betsa did for Wagner, who has a 21-2 record but gave up three runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings.
"I didn't think Haylie was as sharp as I've seen her look," said Hutchins. "I didn't think her pitches were working as well. We know what she's throwing from the dugout, and they were over the plate. But we've got Megan ready to go, and so that was an easy decision."
Betsa (29-4) was pitching for the third time in three days and finished the NCAA Regional with three wins and two earned runs allowed in 14 2/3 innings (1.23 ERA) with six hits, five walks and 23 strikeouts.
"I had an opportunity to help my team out and help Haylie out," said Betsa, "and that's what we've been doing all year."
While Betsa threw 259 pitches during the weekend, Georgia ace Chelsea Wilkinson, her counterpart next weekend, fired 440 pitches in 29 innings over four games this weekend.
The Bulldogs defeated Western Kentucky, 17-0, on Sunday to advance to the Sweet 16 along with the Wolverines.
Hutchins said, "I told our kids, 'Congratulations. You're one of 16 teams in the country that gets to have practice Tuesday.' It's a great accomplishment; we're very excited about it. It's one of our goals. And we'll come back Tuesday and work on getting a little bit better and get ready for whatever's next."
• U-M Jumps on Pitt Early, Captures Fourth Straight Regional Title
