Michigan
23-3, 1-1
Northwestern
10-17, 1-1
Wolverines Bounce Back to Run-Rule Northwestern
3/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2016
» Tera Blanco posted two hits and a career-best six RBI, highlighted by a second-inning grand slam; Lindsay Montemarano also homered in the second.
» RHP Megan Betsa fanned 12 Wildcat batters and, despite allowing two early home runs, kept Northwestern off the board in each of the final three frames.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Alumni Field)
Scores: #2 Michigan 11, Northwestern 3 (5 inn.)
Records: U-M (23-3, 1-1 Big Ten), NU (10-17, 1-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 27 -- vs. Northwestern (Wilpon Complex), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco posted two hits, including a second-inning grand slam, and a career-best six RBI to headline the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team's 11-3, five-inning decision against Northwestern on Saturday afternoon (March 26) in front of a sold-out 2,473 fans at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. U-M bounced back with the win to even the series -- and its Big Ten Conference record -- at one apiece.
Blanco nearly went yard in the bottom of the first as well, settling instead for a game-tying two-run double on a skied fly ball was seemingly lost in the sun and dropped down on the track in leftfield. After taking the lead on an RBI groundout, Michigan took advantage of another miscue to pad its lead to 5-2, scoring two runs when a grounder skipped through the legs of the Wildcat shortstop.
Northwestern homered again in the top of the second -- all of its runs came off the two early homers -- but the Wolverines with six runs in the home half. Blanco made the Wildcats pay for walking the bases loaded, bombing out her first collegiate grand slam deep to the Fisher Stadium outfield beyond the left centerfield wall. It is her fourth homer on the season and second in as many games.
Just two batters later, junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano followed with her second home run of the weekend, lining a two-run shot into the Northwestern bullpen beyond leftfield. Like Blanco, it is her fourth of the season.
With the run-rule margin already in place, the Wolverines put runners on base in each of the next two innings but were stymied by a pair of double plays -- both with some controversy -- to end the threats.
Junior RHP Megan Betsa (10-2) kept battling in circle all game, posting 12 strikeouts -- her fourth game this season with double-digit strikeouts -- and despite allowing five hits and five walks, gave up no runs after the early home runs balls. She struck out the side in the second and fourth innings, and with Northwestern threatening with a pair of base runners in the fifth, dealt a five-pitch punchout to end the game.
Shoutout to @umichsoftball for today's win!
You left Blanco's grandslam ball on our field! Did you want it back??#GoBlue-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 26, 2016
The Wolverines will close out the series tomorrow (Sunday, March 26), hosting Northwestern in the rubber match at 1 p.m. at Alumni Field. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Betsa, Megan (10-2)
L: Bond, Nicole (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Filler, Andrea 1 ; Bush, Alcy 1
RBI: Filler, Andrea 2 ; Bush, Alcy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Krista 1 ; Filler, Andrea 1 ; Bush, Alcy 1
SB: Williams, Krista 1
Batting:
2B: Blanco, Tera 1
HR: Blanco, Tera 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
RBI: Blanco, Tera 6 ; Vargas, Amanda 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Romero, Sierra 2 ; Christner, Kelly 2 ; Susalla, Kelsey 2 ; Blanco, Tera 2 ; Vargas, Amanda 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 2
SB: Christner, Kelly 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
HBP: Lawrence, Sierra 1 ; Blanco, Tera 1 ; Vargas, Amanda 1
