Michigan
44-4, 21-2
Rutgers
24-32, 8-15
Wolverines Run-Rule Rutgers to Close Regular Season
5/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 8, 2016
» Seniors Sierra Lawrence, Kelsey Susalla and Sierra Romero were among the stars on Senior Day, combining for six hits and three RBI.
» Megan Betsa and Sara Driesenga combined for 10 strikeouts and U-M's 15th shutout win of the season.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #2 Michigan 8, Rutgers 0 (5 inn.)
Records: U-M (44-4, 21-2 Big Ten), RU (24-32, 8-15 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 13 -- vs. Wisconsin or Indiana - Big Ten Tournament (State College, Pa.), 8 p.m.
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Feeling the Family, Love that is the Michigan Softball Dynasty
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team closed out the final regular-season weekend in style, cruising to an 8-0, five-inning decision against Rutgers on Sunday afternoon (May 8) in front of a capacity crowd of 2,473 at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The Wolverines extended their streak to 17 straight games.
Seniors largely headlined U-M's annual Senior Day game, notably centerfielder Sierra Lawrence, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, rightfielder Kelsey Susalla with two hits and second baseman Sierra Romero, who knocked out a solo home run -- her third of the weekend -- in her first plate appearance.
Romero's home run gave Michigan an immediate lead in the first inning. She connected with the 2-0 pitch and lined it deep into the rightfield grandstand for her 16th long ball of the season.
The Wolverines used small ball to plate two apiece in the second and third frames, scoring on a Lawrence RBI single and an error in the former and a fielder's choice and wild pitch in the latter. Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez, who went 2-for-3, contributed to a pair of the tallies, scoring on an errant throw to first base and driving in another on a fielder's choice with Rutgers' rightfielder pulled in as an extra infielder.
Sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco, who matched a career best with three hits, padded Michigan's lead to seven with a two-run blast in the fourth inning -- her 10th home run of the season. Blanco was hit by two pitches in the at-bat but, controversially, ruled to have twice leaned into the pitches. After an extended discussion between head coach Carol Hutchins and the home plate umpire, Blanco bombed the next pitch over the right-centerfield wall. Lawrence pushed the game into run-rule territory with an RBI single through the left side.
Junior RHP Megan Betsa (22-3) was terrific from the circle, fanning eight through four innings while allowing one hit -- on a slapped slow roller down the third baseline -- and one walk. She struck out the side in the first and second innings; through the second frame and stretching back into Friday's series opener, she boasted a stretch of five innings -- 15 outs -- in which all her outs came via strikeout.
Senior RHP Sara Driesenga entered in the top of the fifth and added two more strikeouts to the total. Romero recorded the final out, tracking a fouled popup to the wall to make the grab.
Michigan, which clinched its ninth straight Big Ten Conference title yesterday, celebrated the achievement -- along with its senior class -- after the game. The Wolverines ended the Big Ten season with a 21-2 record, winning 16 consecutive league games after dropping two of their first seven.
The Wolverines open the postseason at the Big Ten Tournament next weekend in State College, Pennsylvania. U-M earned the No. 1 seed and will open play on Friday (May 13) at Nittany Lion Softball Park. First pitch is slated for 8 p.m.
.@umichsoftball celebrates their @bigten Championship with @UMCoachHutch! #GotHer #B1Gchamps pic.twitter.com/j9trmZB7SG
-- BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) May 8, 2016
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Betsa, Megan (22-3)
L: Jones, Whitney (5-6)
Batting:
SH: Huang, Stephanie 1 ; Adams, Elizabeth 1
Base Running:
CS: Whitley, Jordan 1
HBP: Slowinski, Melanie 1
Batting:
2B: Susalla, Kelsey 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
HR: Romero, Sierra 1 ; Blanco, Tera 1
RBI: Lawrence, Sierra 2 ; Romero, Sierra 1 ; Blanco, Tera 2 ; Ramirez, Abby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Romero, Sierra 1 ; Susalla, Kelsey 1 ; Blanco, Tera 1 ; Wald, Nikki 1 ; Peters, Natalie 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 2 ; Ramirez, Abby 1
