Wolverines Power Past Indiana for Series Sweep

Saturday, April 29

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

37-10-1, 17-3

Indiana

22-28, 8-12

Indiana

Michigan

4/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 29, 2017

» No. 19 Michigan knocked out four home runs to beat Indiana, 8-0, in six innings and claim the weekend series sweep.
» Tera Blanco posted two home runs -- the first multi-homer game of her career -- and four RBI, while Katie Alexander and Natalie Peters also recorded solo homers.
» RHP Megan Betsa lost her no-hit bid in the top of the sixth inning, settling instead for a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.

• Box Score | Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: #19 Michigan 8, Indiana 0 (6 inn.)
Records: U-M (37-10-1, 17-3 Big Ten), IU (22-28, 8-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, May 2 -- vs. Western Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan softball team powered out four home runs, including two off the bat of junior first baseman Tera Blanco, to earn an 8-0, six-inning decision and complete the series sweep against Indiana on Saturday afternoon (April 29) in front of a sellout crowd of 2,400 at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.

The Wolverines up their weekend home run tally to eight over the three-game series against Indiana -- and 11 over their last five games -- with the four-homer effort in today's series finale. Blanco's multi-homer effort was the first of her career, and she led Michigan with four RBI on the day. Sophomore second baseman Faith Canfield, sophomore leftfielder Courtney Richardson and sophomore Natalie Peters also posted two hits apiece; Canfield tallied two doubles to earn a share of the team lead (15).

Senior RHP Megan Betsa (21-7) saw her no-hit bid spoiled with two outs in the top of the sixth when Indiana strung together a hot-shot single down the third-base line and a bloop single to shallow centerfield. She settled instead for a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.

Michigan earned most of its runs on long balls, striking first with a Blanco leadoff solo shot in the second inning after she connected with the 3-2 pitch and deposited into the visitors' bullpen beyond leftfield. Alexander knocked out a solo homer of her own to pad the lead in the fourth; it hit the top of the wall in leftfield and rolled over for her second home run of the season.

Blanco struck again -- this time with runners on base -- in the fifth inning. Canfield roped a first-pitch leadoff double down the leftfield line, and Peters laid bunt a perfect bunt that stayed just fair inside the box to put two aboard for Blanco, who bombed a three-run homer into the rightfield grandstand for her sixth long ball of the season. With two outs and the bases loaded six batters later, senior shortstop Abby Ramirez drove in two more runs on a looped single to left centerfield.

Peters provided the run-rule margin just three pitches into the bottom of the sixth, slapping a game-ending solo home run that stayed just fair down the rightfield line -- her second of the season.

The Wolverines will close out its regular-season home schedule on Tuesday (May 2), hosting Western Michigan for their annual Pink Game at 6 p.m. at Alumni Field. Tickets are still available through the U-M Ticket Office.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard