Michigan
55-6
Georgia
44-16
Wolverines Quiet Potent Georgia Lineup in Super Regional Opener
5/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 21, 2015
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| Postgame Report 
• NCAA Bracket | Super Regional Central
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Event: NCAA Super Regional (Game 1)
Score: #3 Michigan 10, #14 Georgia 3
Records: U-M (55-6), UGA (44-16)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 22 -- vs. Georgia - Super Regional Game 2 (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: What Went into Making Betsa a 30-Game Winner
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan softball team used a couple big innings, including a four-run first, to claim a 10-3 decision against No. 14 Georgia in its NCAA Super Regional opener on Friday evening (May 22) in front of 2,136 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.
The win gives the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The teams will square off again tomorrow (Friday, May 22) for game two at 6 p.m. on ESPNU. If a third game is necessary, it will be televised on ESPN at 9 p.m.
Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa (30-4) recorded her third double-digit strikeout performance in NCAA Tournament play, fanning 10 Bulldog batters while scattering three hits and a pair of walks.
The Wolverines' top of the order came through with timely hits and productive at-bats. Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner batted 2-for-4 with four RBI, driving in the game's first runs on a two-run blast in the first inning, while junior second baseman Sierra Romero also posted a pair of hits, going 2-for-3 with one run batted in.
For their second straight NCAA Tournament game, the Wolverines pounced immediately in the first inning, using both big hits and free passes to plate four runs in the home half of the frame. After a punchout in its first plate appearance, Michigan's next six batters reached successfully, highlighted by a towering two-run Christner bomb to deep centerfield -- her 20th long ball of the season. The Wolverines loaded the bases on a single and two walks, including a 12-pitch base-on-balls to sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano, before earning a pair of easy RBI on a walk and subsequent hit-by-pitch.
After Betsa fanned five of the first six outs in the first and second innings, the Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the third, taking advantage of a first-pitch leadoff double and an error on plate a run on a subsequent sac fly to leftfield. Betsa set down the next two in order to end the threat on a lineout to Montemarano in foul territory and an inning-ending strikeout.
The Wolverines responded with four more runs in the bottom half of the frame to pad their advantage to 8-1. Michigan took advantage of a pair of errors to extend the inning, scoring a run on a slow roller to the circle that Bulldog pitcher Brittany Gray threw past first base. With one out and runners on the corners, Romero smacked a hard bouncer through the right side to plate one, and Christner followed with a full-count two-run single past the shortstop into centerfield.
The teams traded two runs apiece in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs earned theirs off the bat of third baseman Anna Swafford, who knocked a two-run shot to deep centerfield. Michigan again responded in the home half, answering with two runs on freshman first baseman Tera Blanco's RBI double into the right centerfield gap and a well-played fielder's choice from junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence.
Michigan did not produce many additional opportunities, while Georgia threatened mightily -- but could not capitalize -- in the fifth and sixth frames. The Bulldogs puts a pair of base runners on with no outs in the former frame before Betsa forced a flyout and issues back-to-back strikeouts, including an inning-ending punchout, to end the threat. Georgia used a pair of singles and an error to load the bases in the sixth but got itself out when the batter stepped on home plate while making contact with the pitch.
Betsa dealt a 1-2-3 seventh inning, earning outs on a high-flying foul out to third baseman, a full-count strikeout and a flyout to centerfield.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Betsa, Megan (30-4)
L: Chelsea Wilkinson (28-10)
Batting:
2B: Niaja Griffin 1
HR: Anna Swafford 1
RBI: Sydni Emanuel 1 ; Anna Swafford 2
SF: Sydni Emanuel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Samantha LaZear 1 ; Anna Swafford 1 ; Niaja Griffin 1
SB: Anna Swafford 1
HBP: Tina Iosefa 1
Batting:
2B: Blanco, Tera 1
HR: Christner, Kelly 1
RBI: Lawrence, Sierra 1 ; Romero, Sierra 1 ; Christner, Kelly 4 ; Falk, Aidan 1 ; Blanco, Tera 1 ; Ramirez, Abby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lawrence, Sierra 1 ; Romero, Sierra 2 ; Christner, Kelly 1 ; Susalla, Kelsey 1 ; Sweet, Lauren 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1 ; Wald, Nikki 1 ; Richvalsky, Olivia 1 ; Ramirez, Abby 1
SB: Romero, Sierra 1
HBP: Ramirez, Abby 1
