Wolverines Beat Virginia Tech to Close Opening Weekend

Sunday, February 14

Tampa, Fla.

9:00 AM

Michigan

4-1

Virginia Tech

1-3

Michigan

Virginia Tech

Wolverines Beat Virginia Tech to Close Opening Weekend

2/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 14, 2016

Driesenga photo
Sara Driesenga

» Michigan plated two runs in the fifth inning to rally past Virginia Tech, 3-1, in its USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament finale.
» Sierra Romero hit 3-for-3 with the game-tying solo home run, two runs scored and a walk.
» RHP Sara Driesenga earned the victory with two strikeouts and four hits allowed; RHP Megan Betsa struck out five of seven batters faced for the save.

• Box Score

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament (Day 3 of 3)
Scores: #2 Michigan 3, Virginia Tech 1
Records: U-M (4-1), VT (1-3)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 19 -- at Florida State - ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Tallahassee, Fla.), 6:30 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team shook off a sluggish start in its USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament finale, rallying to earn a 3-1 decision against Virginia Tech on Sunday morning (Feb. 14) at USF Softball Stadium. The Wolverines closed out the opening weekend with a 4-1 mark.

After struggling to get its offense going, U-M heated up late, earning 10 hits from seven different Wolverine players for its fourth game with double-digit hits this weekend. Senior second baseman Sierra Romero batted 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and a walk, while junior leftfielder Kelly Christner went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning.

Graduate student RHP Sara Driesenga (2-0) similarly got better as the game wore on. She allowed one run on four hits -- three in the first inning -- and two walks while striking out two through five innings. Junior RHP Megan Betsa entered in the sixth and struck out five of seven batters faced for her first save of the season.

After several loud outs in the early innings, the Wolverines used a loud hit to break through in the third when Romero bombed the game-tying solo shot -- her second homer of the season -- to straightaway centerfield.

Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez, who hit a team-best .667 over the weekend, led off the fifth with infield single before Romero and Christner recorded back-to-back singles -- the latter on a looper to shallow rightfield -- to give U-M its first lead. Sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco cushioned the lead two batters later with a two-out RBI single through the right side.

Michigan continued to threaten late, loading the bases in the sixth, but could not push across another run.

Betsa entered in the bottom of the sixth and, after issuing a leadoff walk, struck out the next three batters on just 15 pitches. She added two more strikeouts in the seventh.

Tweet of the Game

Wolverines were resilient in a tight game today. 3-for-3 day for @Sierrajoy32 #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/rPpn9hrDbE

-- Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) February 14, 2016

Michigan (4-1) will head to Tallahassee, Florida, to participate in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge next weekend (Fri-Sun., Feb. 19-21), playing two apiece against host Florida State and Virginia Tech. The Wolverines will kick off play against the Seminoles at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at JoAnne Graf Field. Both FSU games will be streamed on ESPN3.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard