Notes and Quotes: #3 Michigan 7, #14 Georgia 6
5/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
N O T E S
• With tonight's win, Michigan improved to 5-3 in the all-time series against Georgia. U-M owns a 2-1 mark against the Bulldogs in NCAA Tournament play.
• Michigan clinched a berth in its 11th Women's College World Series and second in three seasons. U-M has previously reached the WCWS in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2013.
• U-M is now 11-12 in Super Regional games and has won four of its nine Super Regional series.
• Michigan went 19-2 at Alumni Field this season. U-M dropped its home opener and two of its first eight before winning each of its final 13 appearances at home.
• The Wolverines extended their win streak to 25 consecutive games.
• Michigan is hitting .345 through five NCAA Tournament games, boasting a team on-base percentage of .453 and a .597 slugging percentage.
• Junior Kelsey Susalla and senior Haylie Wagner knocked out home runs to up the Wolverines' program-record season homer tally to 115. U-M has recorded multiple home runs in 23 of its last 38 games.
• Susalla matched her career best with three hits -- just a triple shy of the cycle. She has previously tallied three hits on four occasions, including three times this season. She owns 15 multi-hit games this season.
• Wagner boasts two home runs in just 32 total plate appearances this season.
• Junior Sierra Romero owns a nine-game hitting streak, stretching back to the Wolverines' regular-season game. It matches her season-long hit streak. She's hitting .536 (15-for-28) with four homers and 17 RBI over the stretch.
• Romero scored a run in the fifth inning to up her career total to 224 and claim sole possession of Michigan's record in the category. She surpassed Traci Conrad (223, 1996-99). She also improved on her own career RBI record, upping it to 223 with her third-inning RBI single.
• Sophomore Kelly Christner hit .443 with nine home runs and 31 RBI at home this season.
• Senior LHP Haylie Wagner became just the seventh Wolverine to surpass 500 career strikeouts in program history. She ranks seventh on the all-time series with 502 strikeouts.
• Wagner also improved to 97-17 over her four-year collegiate career. She ranks second in program history with a .851 career winning percentage. Jordan Taylor (2008-11) owns the school record with a .856 winning percentage (107-18).
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement ... "I thought my kids were fantastic. They've been fantastic year. I'm really proud of them. I told them, don't be proud just because you won; be proud of what you worked so hard to accomplish. This has been a hard-working group. They believe in each other. We keep evolving as a team. Haylie (Wagner) and (Megan) Betsa -- what a great team. That Georgia team is a bunch of fighters; they are scrappy. That's a tough team to play and a tough team to beat. There's a lot of tough outs in their lineup. We just stayed on course. We got behind early, and we didn't lose our cool. I'm just really proud of our kids. Our heart was fantastic. This time of year, talent isn't the most important thing. Heart and soul is the most important thing."
On the Wolverines' 2015 team ... "Team 38 is writing its own destiny. This is a good team. Good teams don't always win. You have to have talent. But in a game like that, you've got to have guts, you've got to have nerve and you've got to believe -- in your teammates, in your coaches and yourself. Our talent is great, but our belief is fantastic."
On the challenge of making the Women's College World Series ... "I know how hard it is to get there. I've been here 31 years. Most people think 11 appearances is really good, but I've seen a lot of teams not make it all the way. To finish this part of our season and advance, I know what it takes. This team had what it takes, and they showed it today."
On the Wolverines battling through a tight game ... "When we had so many run-rules and blowouts during the season, you get concerned that when it gets to this time of year, how are we going to play when the games get tight? I'm very pleased with what we did with that tonight. We just stayed in our moment. We were really one-pitch focused. You could tell by our at-bats -- and we gave away a few at-bats. But postseason is all about tight games."
U-M Senior LHP Haylie Wagner
On advancing to the Women's College World Series ... "There's a lot of emotions running through me. I'm so excited and so proud of this team. In the end, we fought together and we played together. We're a team and a family. We did everything together in this game, and it took every single one of us. We're just going to keep fighting and keep working and do it as a team."
On her performance in her final home appearance ... "It means a lot to me. This is my last time on Alumni Field. I wouldn't want to go out any other way. The fans were amazing -- just the energy and the atmosphere. We're ready for OKC; we're ready to fight and attack out there."
On her home run ... "All three of my coaches told me the exact same thing -- see the back of the ball and hit the back of the ball. I went up there and used my timing swing. I don't really remember swinging; I just saw the back of the ball and hit, and there it went. I really didn't know how far it was going; it was just a great feeling."
U-M Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa
On her feelings after the game ... "Haylie came in in the first inning when I didn't have my best stuff. I was right there cheering her on. This is my first time going, but I believe we can win this whole thing. We're a great team. The belief we have in each other is indescribable."
On being prepared to reenter the game ... "When I came out, I had to just shake it off. Three runs isn't anything for this team. I knew that Haylie was going to get the job done. She pitched lights out for the rest of the game. They told me that I might have the opportunity to come back into the game, and I had to get my head right. That's where I was the whole team, just picking up my team.
U-M Junior Kelsey Susalla
On her three-hit performance ... "We're all just focused on seeing the back of the ball and hitting the back of the ball, like Haylie said. That's what the coaches have preached all season. I was just looking for something in the zone and looking to put a good swing on the ball."
On the emotions after the game ... "It's still surreal that we won the game. This team has a lot of fight. We all believe in each other. It was great getting that final out."
