Montemarano Powers U-M to Series Win against Northwestern

Sunday, March 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

24-3, 2-1

Northwestern

10-18, 1-2

Northwestern

Michigan

Montemarano Powers U-M to Series Win against Northwestern

3/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 27, 2016

» Michigan scored early and late, plating five runs in the bottom of the sixth, to defeat Northwestern, 11-3, in six innings.
» Lindsay Montemarano belted out two home runs; she finished the weekend series with a 4-for-5, five-walk showing, reaching base in all but one plate appearance.
» Michigan bounced back from a wild loss in its Big Ten opener to earn back-to-back run-rule wins and claim the series against Northwestern.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Scores: #2 Michigan 11, Northwestern 3 (6 inn.)
Records: U-M (24-3, 2-1 Big Ten), NU (10-18, 1-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 1 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), 6 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team used three long balls, including two off the bat of junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano, to claim the rubber match against Northwestern, 11-3, in six innings on Sunday afternoon (March 27) in front of 1,356 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. With the victory, the Wolverines claimed their first Big Ten Conference series of the season.

After a couple quiet innings and a diminishing lead, the Wolverines' bats exploded again in the sixth inning as U-M plated five runs to end the game early. Montemarano kicked off the offensive surge with a leadoff blast deep over the centerfield wall -- her third of the weekend and sixth on the season. Montemarano, who also knocked out a home run in the third inning, reached base in all but one plate appearance this weekend with four hits and five walks.

Michigan followed the solo homer with hits in the next three at-bats, including back-to-back doubles from junior shortstop Abby Ramirez and senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence -- the latter driving in two runs to cap Lawrence's 3-for-3, two-RBI day. U-M added another on junior leftfielder Kelly Christner's RBI fielder's choice, before sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco posted one more double, banging it off the wall in right centerfield to score Christner from first base for the game-ending tally.

The Wolverines took advantage of Northwestern miscues to score early in the game, putting their first two batters on with a hit-by-pitch and fielding error, before senior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla smacked a two-run double to the wall in left centerfield.

Christner homered to highlight a three-run second inning for the Wolverines, driving a two-out, two-run bomb deep to leftfield -- her fourth this season. Senior second baseman Sierra Romero also drove in a run with a deep sac fly but was held hitless for the first time in a month, halting her career-long hit streak at 18 games. Northwestern's leftfielder played a major role in it, making an outstanding diving grab on a line drive in the fourth -- one of several Wildcat web gems in the game.

Northwestern earned its runs on a dropped fly ball in the third and a fourth-inning solo home run. Senior RHP Sara Driesenga (12-0) was solid in the start, allowing just the one earned run off five hits and one walk and struck out two through four innings. Junior RHP Megan Betsa entered in the fifth and picked up the save -- her third -- with three strikeouts and one hit allowed.

Tweet of the Game

MIGHTY MIGHTY MONTE! Leadoff blast for Lindsay, her 2nd today, deep over the CF wall. 7-3 U-M. pic.twitter.com/emk3W3mSDQ

-- Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) March 27, 2016

The Wolverines will hit the road for their next seven straight games, heading first to Bloomington, Indiana, next weekend for a three-game set against Indiana. The series kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday (April 1) at the Hoosiers' Andy Mohr Field.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard