Michigan
40-4, 0
Penn State
28-20, 0
Wolverines Dominate Doubleheader to Sweep Penn State
4/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 30, 2016
» Sierra Lawrence went 5-for-5 with six runs and three RBI, while Aidan Falk was 4-for-5 with five RBI; Sierra Romero went 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBI in the second game.
» Michigan tallied three home runs, including two grand slams, in the first game and five doubles in the second; the Wolverines tallied a season-best 16 hits in the finale.
Site: State College, Pa. (Nittany Lions Softball Park)
Scores: #2 Michigan 12, Penn State 0 (5 inn.); #2 Michigan 13, Penn State 3
Records: U-M (41-4, 18-2 Big Ten), PSU (29-20, 13-7 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 6 -- vs. Rutgers (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- After last night's tight opener, the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team closed the Penn State series in dominant fashion, sweeping a doubleheader, 12-0 and 13-3 in five innings apiece, to earn the sweep on Saturday (April 30) at Nittany Lion Softball Park. The Wolverines pushed their win streak to 14 in a row and improved to 18-2 in Big Ten Conference play.
Seniors Sierra Lawrence and Sierra Romero led from the top of the lineup; Lawrence went 5-for-5 on the day with six runs scored and three RBI, while Romero was a perfect 4-for-4 in the second slate, tallying two runs and three RBI. Sophomore catcher Aidan Falk was also hot, going 4-for-5 with five RBI, most notably on a first-inning grand slam in the day's first game.
In all, the Wolverines scored in all 10 runs of the doubleheader, posting 25 runs on 25 hits, including a season-high 16 hits in the series finale. U-M hit three home runs -- two grand slams -- in the first contest and five doubles in the second.
Senior RHP Sara Driesenga (19-0) and junior RHP Megan Betsa (20-3) were sharp from the circle. Driesenga struck out two and allowed just three hits and no walks en route to her third complete-game shutout of the season in the first game, while Betsa, who struck 16 the night before, added three strikeouts and three runs -- only two earned -- on seven hits and two walks. All but two PSU hits came in the final two innings in the finale.
GAME ONE: Michigan 12, Penn State 0 (5 inn.)
The Wolverines tallied their grand slams early and late to highlight the day's first game. After a leadoff single and two walks to load the bases in the first inning, Falk crushed a deep ball over the rightfield wall for her fourth home run of the season and first collegiate grand slam.
Freshman catcher Katie Alexander added a second slam as a pinch hitter in the top of the fifth. After Michigan already scored on a throwing error in the frame, Alexander connected with the 0-1 pitch and drove it over the leftfield wall -- just her third collegiate hit and first home run.
Michigan tallied a run apiece in the second, third and fourth frames, earning two off the bat Lawrence, who posted an RBI single up the middle in the second before leading off the fourth with a solo shot to leftfield -- her 10th of the season and third in as many games. Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez earned an RBI on a bloop single into shallow leftfield in the third.
GAME TWO: Michigan 13, Penn State 3 (5 inn.)
The Wolverines posted several big innings in the series finale, scoring three apiece in the first and fourth frames and five in the third. Lawrence set the tone immediately, singling the first pitch of the game up middle and scoring on a sac fly. Sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco and Falk registered back-to-back doubles to plate one apiece and pad the early lead.
Falk doubled again to lead off the third inning, and junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano and Romero followed with two-baggers of their own to drive in three runs. Senior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla flared a two-run single into shallow centerfield to keep the two-out rally alive.
Lawrence, Romero and freshman outfielder Natalie Peters recorded RBI singles in three consecutive at-bats in the fourth and Montemarano added a third RBI on a sac fly in the fifth to close out scoring for Michigan.
PSU tallied three hits in the fourth and two in the fifth to spoil Betsa's shutout bid. She retired the final two batters on three pitches, forcing a foulout and a groundout -- both to Montemarano -- to end the contest.
SALINE SLAMMER! Alexander bombs the no-doubt, pinch-hit grand slam over the LF wall. 1st collegiate HR. 12-0 U-M. https://t.co/Us7OZexkBj
-- Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) April 30, 2016
Michigan will close out the regular season at home next weekend, hosting Rutgers for a three-game set at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The series kicks with the Wolverines' annual Pink Game at 6 p.m. on Friday (May 6), continues with a 1 p.m. slate on Saturday (May 7) and a Senior Day noon game on Sunday (May 8). Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Betsa, Megan (20-3)
L: Laubach, Marlaina (11-10)
Batting:
2B: Romero, Sierra 1 ; Blanco, Tera 1 ; Swearingen, Taylor 1 ; Falk, Aidan 2 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
RBI: Lawrence, Sierra 1 ; Romero, Sierra 3 ; Peters, Natalie 1 ; Susalla, Kelsey 3 ; Blanco, Tera 1 ; Falk, Aidan 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 3
SH: Christner, Kelly 1 ; Ramirez, Abby 1
SF: Susalla, Kelsey 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lawrence, Sierra 3 ; Romero, Sierra 2 ; Blanco, Tera 1 ; Swearingen, Taylor 1 ; Wald, Nikki 1 ; Canfield, Faith 2 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 2 ; Ramirez, Abby 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Macy 1 ; Knief, Lexi 1
RBI: Knief, Lexi 1 ; Sorenson, Mollie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Macy 1 ; Dubois, Tori 1 ; Pond, Erin 1
