Wolverines Claw Past CMU for 11th Straight Win

Wednesday, April 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

38-4

Central Michigan

20-23-1

Central Michigan

Michigan

4/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 27, 2016

» Michigan scored runs in four separate innings and quelled a seventh-inning rally to defeat CMU, 5-2, for its 11th straight win.
» Tera Blanco and Sierra Lawrence tallied late home runs; Lawrence was 3-for-4 with three RBI.
» RHP Sara Driesenga struck out seven and allowed two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and no walks.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Stadium)
Scores: #2 Michigan 5, Central Michigan 2
Records: U-M (38-4), CMU (20-23-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 29 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 6 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team registered a pair of late home runs and quelled a seventh-inning rally to defeat Central Michigan, 5-2, on Wednesday evening (April 27) in front of 1,856 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The Wolverines pushed their win streak to 11 in a row.

Sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco and senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence knocked out home runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, to cushion U-M's lead and highlight the offensive efforts. Blanco drove a solo shot into the wind coming in from centerfield for her eighth homer of the season, while Lawrence, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI on the day, deposited a two-run shot into the visitors' bullpen beyond leftfield -- her eighth home run as well.

Central Michigan scored its runs -- one apiece -- in the final two frames. After breaking through with a two-out unearned tally in the sixth, the Chippewas strung together three straight hits to load the bases with no outs in the seventh. U-M sacrificed a run for the first out on a 6-5 fielder's choice at third, before senior RHP Sara Driesenga earned a strikeout and fielded a slow roller to close out the game.

Driesenga (18-0) struck out seven Chippewa batters, including two apiece in the fourth and fifth innings, and allowed two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and no walks.

The Wolverines built their lead in the middle innings, scoring on a wild pitch to the backstop in the third, before Lawrence drove an RBI double up the middle in the fourth. Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez scored on the wild pitch; she went 2-for-2 in the contest.

Tweet of the Game

Sierra Lawrence must HATE slushies. 2 run bomb and almost wrecks a tray full of them! @umichsoftball https://t.co/NwOANwyuqG

-- BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) April 27, 2016

Michigan will hit the road for the first time in three weeks, traveling to State College, Pennsylvania, for a three-game series against Penn State this weekend. The series kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday (April 29) at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard