Wolverines Blank PSU in Big Ten Opener

Friday, March 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

20-7-1, 1-0

Penn State

12-15, 0-1

Penn State

Michigan

3/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 24, 2017

» No. 19 Michigan opened Big Ten play with a 3-0 shutout against Penn State for its sixth straight home win.
» RHP Megan Betsa struck out 14 en route to a complete-game, three-hit shutout.
» Faith Canfield went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Courtney Richardson drove in the winning run on a solo home run in the fifth inning.

• Box Score | Event Replay

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #19 Michigan 3, Penn State 0
Records: U-M (20-7-1, 1-0 Big Ten), PSU (12-15, 0-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 25 -- vs. Penn State (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior RHP Megan Betsa threw her third straight complete-game shutout to propel the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan softball team to a 3-0 decision against Penn State in its Big Ten Conference opener Friday night (March 24) in front of 1,273 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

Betsa (9-5) was outstanding from the circle, striking out 14 Nittany Lion batters -- her 10th game this season with double-digit strikeouts and third in a row -- while allowing just three hits and one walk. In four appearances at home this weekend, the Wolverine ace has struck out 50 while allowing no runs and just five hits through 24 innings.

The Wolverines struggled at plate early before breaking through with a pair of runs in the fifth inning, including a solo shot off the bat of sophomore leftfielder Courtney Richardson, who connected with the 3-2 pitch and mashed it deep over the centerfield wall. The bomb broke the scoreless tie and is her second long ball of the season.

Sophomore second baseman Faith Canfield tallied her third hit of the contest to drive in another run three batters later, plating sophomore rightfielder Natalie Peters on a RBI single up the middle that the PSU second baseman got to but could not control.

Michigan capitalized on free bases, reaching on a walk and a hit-by-pitch, to cushion its lead in the sixth. After both base runners advanced 60 feet on a successful double steal, junior pinch runner Nikki Wald slid in safely after senior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano sent a chopped fielder's choice back to the circle.

With the decision, the Wolverines extended their winning streak to six straight games -- all at home.

The Wolverines will return to the field tomorrow (Saturday, March 25), hosting Penn State at 2 p.m. at Alumni Field. Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard