Wolverines Roll in B1G Tournament Opener

Friday, May 13

State College, Pa.

8:00 PM

Michigan

45-4

Indiana

29-25

Indiana

Michigan

5/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

May 13, 2016

» Michigan scored 10 runs -- all in the first three innings -- off 10 hits and four free bases to defeat Indiana, 10-0, in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
» Sierra Lawrence, Kelly Christner and Kelsey Susalla posted two hits apiece and combined for six RBI; Susalla knocked out a three-run homer in the second inning.
» Megan Betsa fanned six Hoosiers and allowed just one hit and one walk through three innings; she improved to 23-3.

• Box Score | Tournament Central

Site: State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion Softball Park)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Scores: #2 Michigan 10, Indiana 0 (5 inn.)
Records: U-M (45-4), IU (29-25)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 14 -- at Penn State - Big Ten Tournament (State College, Pa.), 3:30 p.m.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team cruised in its Big Ten Conference Tournament opener, scoring multiple runs in each of the opening three frames to defeat Indiana, 10-0, in five innings in the quarterfinal round Friday evening (May 13) at Nittany Lion Softball Park. The Wolverines extended their win streak to 18 games in a row.

Michigan will face host Penn State in the second semifinal game at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 14). The championship game is slated for a 6 p.m. start later in the day. Both semifinals and the final will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.

The Wolverines posted 10 runs on 10 hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch. Michigan took advantage of free bases early as senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence and senior second baseman Sierra Romero reached to lead off the bottom of the first, before sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco sent both home on a two-run single high off the wall in rightfield.

With her first-inning tally, Romero upped her career run total to 293 to tie the NCAA record in the category; she now shares the top spot with Arizona's Jenny Dalton (1993-96).

Michigan broke the game open with a five-run second inning, highlighted by senior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla's three-run bomb to straightaway centerfield -- her 11th home run of the season. Lawrence and sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner also drove in runs on a lined single into shallow centerfield and a hard comebacker off the IU pitcher's glove, respectively. Lawrence, Christner and Susalla all posted two hits in the game and combined for six RBI.

The Wolverines used small ball to add three runs in the third and pad their advantage into run-rule territory. Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez looped an RBI single into right center and, after Lawrence singled to load the bases, Romero and Christner plated runs on back-to-back fielder's choice grounders to shortstop.

Junior RHP Megan Betsa (23-3) was stellar in the start, fanning six batters and allowing just one hit and one walk through three innings. Senior RHP Sara Driesenga entered in the fourth and added a strikeout and hit allowed in the final two frames.

Tweet of the Game

SUSALLA LONG-BALLA! Kelsey hammers out a three-run shot deep over the CF wall. Her 11th HR this season. 7-0 U-M. https://t.co/zyIgOEnQcW

— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) May 14, 2016