Michigan
Nebraska
U-M Shuts Down Cornhuskers to Capture Big Ten Tournament Crown
5/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Buckeye Field)
Event: Big Ten Conference Tournament (Final)
Score: #3 Michigan 6, Nebraska 1
Records: U-M (51-6), NEB (34-21)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 10 -- NCAA Selection Show (ESPNU), 10 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan softball team captured its ninth Big Ten Conference Tournament crown with a 6-1 decision over Nebraska on Saturday evening (May 9) at Buckeye Field. With the tournament win, the Wolverines swept the conference's regular-season and tournament titles in less than a week's time.
Senior LHP Haylie Wagner (21-2) was spectacular from the circle, fanning six while allowing just one run -- with two outs in the bottom of the seventh -- off three hits and no walks.
Michigan posted a tournament-low six hits but strung together several -- and took advantage of Husker miscues -- to plate its runs in the second and fifth innings. Junior second baseman Sierra Romero went yard for the third time this weekend with a three-run blast in the latter inning, going 1-for-4 with three RBI to earn Tournament MVP honors. Sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano and freshman first baseman Tera Blanco also tallied a hit and an RBI apiece.
The Wolverines manufactured a pair of runs to open scoring in the top of the second. Susalla walked to lead off the inning, and her pinch runner, junior Mary Sbonek, came home after back-to-back Michigan base hits. Senior catcher Lauren Sweet laid a perfectly-placed bunt just inches down the third baseline, while Montemarano ripped an RBI single past the Husker third baseman and just fair down the leftfield line. U-M plated its second run on Blanco's sac fly to deep leftfield two batters later.
Michigan's defense was stout behind Wagner throughout the contest. Junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence made a leaping catch at the wall to save an extra-base hit in the second, and sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez helped Wagner retire the side in the third on just five pitches, fielding all three outs.
Nebraska spoiled Wagner's no-hit bid with a one-out bloop single in the fourth, but the Wolverine hurler quickly ended the threat on a flyout and runner-left-early call.
Michigan doubled its lead in the fifth, scoring on a throwing error before Romero bombed out her third homer of the tournament -- and 20th of the season. Freshman designated player Aidan Falk and Blanco led off with back-to-back singles before Ramirez laid down a sac bunt toward the pitching circle and Husker pitcher Kaylan Jablonski's throw to first base went errant. Two batters later, Romero connected with the 1-2 pitch and drove it deep over the wall in right centerfield.
Wagner fanned two in the sixth and another in the seventh before Nebraska broke through with a two-out tally on pitcher Cassie McClure's RBI single down the leftfield line. Wagner fielded the final out herself, however, on a comebacker to the circle in the next at-bat.
Falk and sophomore RHP Megan Betsa joined Romero as the Wolverines' representatives on the all-tournament team.
The NCAA Championship team selections and regional sites will be announced tomorrow (Sunday, May 10) at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. Michigan has been in the NCAA field in each of the last 20 seasons, reaching the Women's College World Series 10 times and winning the 2005 national championship.
