Wolverines Blank Northwestern to Complete Series Sweep

Sunday, April 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

26-7-1, 6-0

Northwestern

13-19, 1-5

Northwestern

Michigan

Wolverines Blank Northwestern to Complete Series Sweep

4/2/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 2, 2017

» No. 20 Michigan completed the weekend series sweep and earned its seventh straight shutout win -- 12th overall -- with a 4-0 decision against Northwestern.
» RHP Megan Betsa struck out nine and allowed just two hits and two walks to earn her seventh straight complete-game shutout.
» Tera Blanco and Natalie Peters posted two hits and an RBI apiece, while Katie Alexander drove in the winning run on a two-out single in the second.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #20 Michigan 4, Northwestern 0
Records: U-M (26-7-1, 6-0 Big Ten), NU (13-19, 1-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 7 -- at Ohio State (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.

• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Betsa, Blanco Team Up for Scoreless Streak

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team earned its seventh consecutive shutout win, defeating Northwestern, 4-0, to claim the series sweep on Sunday afternoon (April 2) in front of 2,178 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The Wolverines have won 12 straight games and improved to 6-0 in Big Ten Conference play.

Senior RHP Megan Betsa (13-5) also earned her seventh straight shutout win, striking out nine Wildcat batters while holding them to just two hits and two walks. She did not allow a hit past the second inning, while no Northwestern runner reached past second base in the contest.

The Wolverines gradually built their lead, plating single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth frames. Junior first baseman Tera Blanco and sophomore outfielder Natalie Peters both posted two hits and an RBI to headline the Michigan offensive effort.

Sophomore catcher Katie Alexander drove a two-out single up the middle to plate the winning run in the second inning, and Blanco doubled the Wolverine lead with an RBI single of her own in the third. Two pitches after taking one off her elbow guard and not getting the call, she roped her second hit of the day into leftfield.

Senior centerfielder Kelly Christner extended her hit streak to five games with a leadoff single in the fourth, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored as Peters beat out an infield single to the right of the pitching circle. Sophomore second baseman Faith Canfield bombed a two-run homer over the leftfield fence, seemingly breaking the game open, but the runs were erased when Peters was called out for leaving first base early.

Michigan added one more in the fifth, loading the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch, before senior shortstop Abby Ramirez sent a sac fly to centerfield.

The Wolverines (26-7-1, 6-0 Big Ten) will kick off a seven-game road swing next weekend, heading to Columbus, Ohio, for a three-game set against rival Ohio State. The series will open with a 6 p.m. slate on Friday (April 7) at Buckeye Field.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard