Wolverines Battle Past Mizzou in Super Regional Opener

Saturday, May 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

50-5

Missouri

42-15

Missouri

Michigan

Lindsay Montemarano

Wolverines Battle Past Mizzou in Super Regional Opener

5/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

• Box Score | Photo Gallery | Super Regional Central | NCAA Bracket

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Event: NCAA Super Regional (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #2 Michigan 5, #17 Missouri 3
Records: U-M (50-5), Mizzou (42-15)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 29 -- vs. Missouri - Super Regional Game 2 (Wilpon Complex), Noon

• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Montemarano Flashes Power, Leather and a Smile

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team took advantage of a big first inning and stingy defensive to edge No. 17 Missouri, 5-3, in its NCAA Super Regional opener on Saturday (May 28) in front of a sold-out 2,523 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

» Michigan took advantage of a three-run first inning and a Lindsay Montemarano two-run homer in the fifth to beat Missouri, 5-3, in the NCAA Super Regional opener.
» U-M owns a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three series and will have two games to earn one win when the series concludes tomorrow (Sunday, May 29).
» RHP Megan Betsa scattered seven hits and three walks and struck out six -- and was backed by a stellar defensive effort.

The win gives the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The teams will square off again tomorrow (Sunday, May 29) for game two at noon on ESPN. If a third game is necessary, it will be televised on ESPNU at 3 p.m.

The Wolverines pounced on Mizzou ace Paige Lowary immediately in the bottom of the first inning, plating three runs on three hits, two hit batters and a walk. Michigan loaded the bases with no outs before sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco roped a two-run single up the middle to break to the scoreless game early. Michigan was hit by pitches in each of the next two at-bats, earning junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano an RBI on the latter to pad U-M's lead to 3-0 after the first.

The game's remaining runs all came via the long ball. Mizzou cut the lead with its first of two homers in the top of the third when designated player Chloe Rathburn snuck a two-run, two-out shot just over the left-center wall. Catcher Kirsten Mack also homered in the sixth with a no-doubt solo shot to leftfield.

But Montemarano softened the damage with a two-run homer of her own in the previous half inning, in the bottom of the fifth, following a Blanco walk with a two-out bomb to the leftfield bullpen -- her ninth long ball of the season.

Junior RHP Megan Betsa (27-3) was not particularly dominant from the circle but battled to the victory, scattering seven hits, three walks and two hit-by-pitches. She fanned six Mizzou batters, including inning-ending strikeouts in the first and fourth frames to leave runners stranded.

Betsa was backed by spectacular defensive play, including a diving Blanco catch to end the fifth inning and three straight web gems to end the game in the seventh. Senior second baseman Sierra Romero made a stunning play for the final out, diving to her right to snare a hard-hit bouncing grounder then reaching to tag the base and earn the force out.

Tweet of the Game

MIGHTY MONTE! Montemarano bombs a two-run, two-out shot into the LF bullpen. Her 9th HR this year. 5-2 U-M. pic.twitter.com/5hecsxK1gV

-- Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) May 28, 2016