Betsa Fans 13 in Shutout Win at Michigan State

Wednesday, April 13

East Lansing, Mich.

4:30 PM

Michigan

30-4, 8-2

Michigan State

20-20, 2-8

Michigan

Michigan State

4/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 13, 2016

Box Score

Megan Betsa

» The Wolverines earned a 3-0 shutout win at in-state rival Michigan State.
» Michigan used small ball to score all three runs in the fifth inning -- on a fielder's choice, fielding error and wild pitch.
» RHP Megan Betsa was struck out 13 and allowed just two hits and three walks en route to her fifth complete-game shutout of the season.

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Secchia Stadium)
Scores: #2 Michigan 3, Michigan State 0
Records: U-M (30-4, 8-2 Big Ten), MSU (20-20, 2-8 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 15 -- vs. Ohio State (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team used small ball and shutdown pitching to claim a 3-0 midweek win against in-state rival Michigan State on Wednesday afternoon (April 13) at Secchia Stadium.

Junior RHP Megan Betsa (14-3) tossed a complete-game gem from the circle, striking out 13 -- her fourth game this season with double-digit strikeouts -- while holding the Spartans to just two hits allowed and three walks. She owns five complete-game shutouts on the year.

Michigan State tallied hits in the each of the first two innings and drew a pair of walks in the sixth; otherwise, Betsa was dominant. She struck out the side in the first and fanned three in the fifth -- though one reached on a passed ball -- and two apiece in the seven, fourth and seventh.

The Wolverines struggled to find their groove at the plate until stringing together some hits and taking advantage of small ball to break the game open in the fifth. Junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano, junior leftfielder Kelly Christner and sophomore Amanda Vargas registered three straight singles to lead off the inning and load the bases with no outs.

Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run on a one-out fielder's choice to second base. Senior second baseman Sierra Romero followed with another hard grounder to shortstop to plate a run; the Spartan shortstop dove to keep the ball in the infield but given an error a fielding error when the ball popped out of her hand. Ramirez scored herself just a few pitches later when a wild pitch sailed high and to the backstop.

Michigan threatened with base hits in the sixth and seventh innings but could not muster additional runs. Betsa did not need the support, however, closing out the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, including a two more strikeouts.

Tweet of the Game

It's fair to say that @umichsoftball vs @MSU_Softball draws a crowd!
Packed stadium for a great game in East Lansing pic.twitter.com/XfaWaApktx

— BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) April 13, 2016

Michigan will kick off an eight-game homestand this weekend, hosting rival Ohio State for a three-game set at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The series opens at 6 p.m. on Friday. Tickets for Friday are available through the U-M Ticket Office; Saturday and Sunday's games are already sold out.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard