Michigan Battles to Wins against California, North Carolina

Friday, March 4

Fullerton, Calif.

9:30 AM PT

Michigan

16-2

California

9-5

California

Michigan

Michigan Battles to Wins against California, North Carolina

3/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 4, 2016

Driesenga photo
Sara Driesenga

» The Wolverines used late surges to pull away in wins against California, 4-0, and North Carolina, 11-6.
» RHP Sara Driesenga tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout against Cal and struck out seven through nine innings on the day.
» Sierra Romero hit 5-for-7 with four runs batted in, including a three-hit, three-RBI effort against UNC.

• Boxscores: California | North Carolina

Site: Fullerton, Calif. (Anderson Family Field)
Event: Judi Garman Classic (Day 2 of 3)
Scores: #2 Michigan 4, California 0; #2 Michigan 11, North Carolina 6
Records: U-M (17-2), Cal (9-5), UNC (8-7)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 5 -- vs. Oregon State - Judi Garman Classic (Fullerton, Calif.), 9:30 a.m. PST

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team earned a pair of wins to remain perfect at the annual Judi Garman Classic, defeating California, 4-0, and North Carolina, 11-6, on Friday (March 4) at CSU Fullerton's Anderson Family Field.

A day after cruising to a pair of lopsided wins, the Wolverines had to battle through two close games today, including a tie game through five against UNC, but used late-inning surges in both contests to cushion their leads.

Senior second baseman Sierra Romero continued her recent tear at the plate, going 5-for-7 with four runs batted in, including a three-hit, three-RBI effort against UNC, to pace the Wolverines. Sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco posted three hits and three RBI on the day, while junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano tallied a pair of RBI doubles.

Senior RHP Sara Driesenga (9-0) was sharp from the circle, striking out five while allowing just three hits and a walk en route to a complete-game shutout against the Golden Bears. She added two more strikeouts in relief against North Carolina, giving up just one hit through the final two frames. Junior RHP Megan Betsa (7-1) earned the win against UNC, allowing six runs -- three earned -- on three hits and two walks. She struck out nine through five innings.

GAME 1: Michigan 4, California 0

The Wolverines took advantage of first-inning California miscues to grab an early 2-0 lead. Romero kicked off the rally with a single to leftfield, advanced on a fielding error, and then scored on another, rounding third when the Golden Bear second baseman misplayed a chopper off the bat of senior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla. Susalla advanced on a passed ball and scored when Blanco smacked an RBI single up the middle.

California made pitching changes with each turn through the Wolverine order, bringing in four pitchers in all, and the strategy largely proved effective until late in the game when Michigan used a pair of two-out rallies to tack on a run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings. Romero singled up the middle to plate the former, while Montemarano doubled off the wall in leftfield to close out scoring.

Driesenga got better as the game went on and did not allow a Cal base runner in the final four innings.

GAME 2: Michigan 11, North Carolina 6

After North Carolina twice knotted up the game in the second and fifth innings, the Wolverines finally shook off the Tar Heels with a five-run fifth behind four hits, a walk and an illegal pitch. Sophomore pinch hitter Amanda Vargas and Montemarano both doubled off the left-centerfield wall, driving in a run apiece, and three batters later with runners on the corners, Romero did one better, carrying a high-flying two-run triple to the same spot off the wall in left-center. She subsequently scored on an illegal pitch.

Michigan's five-run fifth followed a four-run top of the inning for the Tar Heels that featured a three-run pinch-hit homer and an RBI bunt single. UNC took advantage of Wolverine mistakes to also score two in the second, using free passes to put runners aboard before a passed ball scored one and led to another.

Blanco provided Michigan its initial lead with a two-run single in the first, and after UNC evened it up, Susalla used bloop single into shallow centerfield to again punch home the go-ahead run. The Wolverines pulled away -- a lead that did not hold -- with a three-run fourth. Senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence and Romero both posted RBI singles in the frame.

Tweet of the Day

It's a 3-hit shutout for Driesenga & @umichsoftball! 〽️ beats Cal 4-0 at #judigarman #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/EuMpht2ZpF

-- FloSoftball (@FloSoftball) March 4, 2016

Michigan (17-2) will close out its nine-day spring break trip tomorrow (Saturday, March 5) when it takes on Oregon State at 9:30 a.m. PST in Judi Garman Classic action at the Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, California.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard