Notes and Quotes: #3 Michigan 6, Nebraska 1
5/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
• Michigan improved to 9-8 in the all-time series against Nebraska.
• The Big Ten Tournament title is the program's ninth and first since 2006. U-M owns a 39-14 record in the 18-year history of the Big Ten Tournament.
• Michigan has swept the Big Ten regular-season and tournament title six times in program history -- 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2005 and 2015.
• Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins earned her 1,400th win as the Wolverines' head coach in tonight's championship game. She is U-M's all-time wins leaders -- in all sports -- with a 1,400-469-4 record over her 31 seasons.
• Five different Wolverines hit .500 or better at the Big Ten Tournament. Freshman Aidan Falk led the Wolverines with a .667 average (6-for-9) with three RBI at the Big Ten Tournament. Freshman Tera Blanco hit .600 (3-for-5) with two homers and four runs batted in.
• Michigan's pitchers posted a 0.82 earned-run average at the Big Ten Tournament with 22 strikeouts and just five hits allowed over 17 innings pitched.
• Junior Sierra Romero upped her career home run tally to 61 -- just one shy of Michigan's program record, held by Samantha Findlay (62, 2005-08). Now with 217 career RBI, Romero is also just two RBI shy of that program record, also held by Findlay (219).
• Senior LHP Haylie Wagner has allowed just four runs over her last 34 innings.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement ... "I thought Michigan came down here to play, and we came down here to win the tournament. Our kids were on all weekend. Iowa made a great push, Nebraska had a great tournament, but I am really proud of my kids, our approach and our togetherness. I really liked them this weekend. We had great swag and great leadership. We played some great ball. Our goal is just to play great softball."
On the freshmen play ... "School ended a couple weeks ago, so they're no longer freshmen; they're sophomores. They've had 56 games to learn the difference between high school and Division I, and I think they're coming along. They're getting better. They just need to keep getting better. You're either getting better or you're getting worse. So, we're going to get back at it Tuesday and keep getting better. But they certainly helped us this weekend."
U-M Junior Sierra Romero
On capturing the Big Ten Tournament title a week after the regular-season title ... "We're excited. This is everything we've worked for. I'm proud of our team, and I wouldn't expect anything less."
On pregame speeches ... "Nothing has to be said to our team. We know what we want. We had a chip on our shoulder this year. We wanted to come down and win the tournament, and that's what we did."
U-M Senior Haylie Wagner
On the Wolverines' getting over the Big Ten Tournament hump ... "I just think we're having a lot of fun, and we're coming ready to play. We love to be on the field. We just go out there and attack, stick to our one-pitch focus, have fun and play softball."
On improving week after week ... "Every game is different. So, I just go out there and try to attack them and do what I can to help the team. If it's a good outcome, that's good. I just keep working."
On her energy in the final few innings ... "We were having a lot of fun in the dugout. I was going out there very relaxed and calm. I started working my pitches, in and off the plate, mixing some speed. I was having fun out there."
