Michigan
14-2
Missouri
9-3
Wolverines Shut Out No. 18 Missouri, LBSU at Garman Classic
3/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 3, 2016
» Megan Betsa and Tera Blanco both posted complete-game shutouts, allowing three hits apiece; Betsa struck out seven through five innings against the Tigers.
» Sierra Romero reach 250 career runs and hits and with an eight-RBI day, upped her career RBI total to 261 and claimed ninth place among the all-time NCAA leaders.
• Boxscores: Missouri | Long Beach State
Site: Fullerton, Calif. (Anderson Family Field)
Event: Judi Garman Classic (Day 1 of 3)
Scores: #2 Michigan 13, #18 Missouri 0 (5 inn.); #2 Michigan 11, Long Beach State 0
Records: U-M (14-2), Mizzou (9-3), LBSU (9-7)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 4 -- vs. California - Judi Garman Classic (Fullerton, Calif.), 9:30 a.m. PST
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team earned a pair of lopsided shutout decisions, defeating No. 18 Missouri, 13-0 in five innings, and Long Beach State, 11-0, to open the annual Judi Garman Classic in dominant fashion Thursday (March 3) at the CSU Fullerton's Anderson Family Field.
Junior RHP Megan Betsa (5-1) and sophomore RHP Tera Blanco (1-1) both tossed complete-game gems. Betsa fanned seven and allowed three hits and four walks against the Tigers, while Blanco also gave up three hits and four walks and struck out two through seven innings against LBSU. It marks Blanco's first collegiate win from the circle.
The top of the Wolverine lineup was particularly potent again today as U-M's first four hitters combined for 11 hits and 15 runs batted run. Senior second baseman Sierra Romero posted four runs batted in in each game and reached the 250 milestone in both career hits and career runs with three hits and two runs on the day. Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez tallied four hits, including three in the opener against Missouri, while senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence posted three hits against Long Beach.
GAME 1: Michigan 13, Missouri 0 (5 inn.)
Michigan took advantage of several free bases against the Tigers, including nine walks, to explode for big innings in the second and fourth. Missouri ace Paige Lowary hit a pair of Wolverine batters in the former frame and after Mizzou intentionally walked the bases loaded, Ramirez poked a two-run single over the first baseman's head to push across the game's first runs. Romero widen the gap just moments later, bombing a three-run homer deep over the rightfield wall.
The Wolverines batted around the order in the fourth, plating seven runs off of three hits, six walks -- three of which came with the based loaded -- and an illegal pitch. Senior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla punched a two-run single through the right side, while freshman catcher Alex Sobczak added an RBI single to right.
Freshman pinch hitter Courtney Richardson drove in the game's final run in the fifth, knocking out a two-out solo home run over the leftfield wall for a memorable first collegiate hit. It was U-M's second pinch-hit homer in as many games.
Betsa, who was backed by some strong defensive play, including a pair of Tiger runners thrown out at home, closed out the game with a pair of fifth-inning strikeouts.
GAME 2: Michigan 11, Long Beach State 0
Michigan followed a similar pattern against Long Beach State, using free bases and timely hitting to post a couple big innings. Sophomore catcher Aidan Falk put U-M on the board with a one-out solo home run to straightaway centerfield in the second, and the Wolverines followed with a run off an error, two bases-loaded walks and a sacrifice fly to complete a five-run frame.
Michigan added five more in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a Romero bases-clearing, three-run double off the centerfield wall. With her eight-RBI day, Romero upped her career total to 261 and claimed the ninth spot among the all-time NCAA leaders in the category.
Blanco carried a no-hitter into the fourth before it was spoiled by two-out infield single. Like Betsa in the earlier game, she was buoyed by a strong defensive effort. With early base runners aboard in each of the final two frames, the Wolverines turned a pair of inning-ending double plays, including a 6-4-3 effort to close out the game.
ROM-BOMB 💣 Romero goes opposite field, clearing the fence AND the bases to extend the lead to 5-0! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ORXNct16wE
-- Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) March 3, 2016
The Wolverines will resume competition at the Judi Garman Classic with a pair of games tomorrow (Friday, March 4), facing California at 9:30 a.m. PST and North Carolina at noon at the Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, California.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Betsa, Megan (6-1)
L: Lowary, Paige (5-2)
Batting:
2B: Christner, Kelly 1
HR: Romero, Sierra 1 ; Richardson, Courtney 1
RBI: Ramirez, Abby 3 ; Romero, Sierra 4 ; Susalla, Kelsey 2 ; Richardson, Courtney 1 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lawrence, Sierra 2 ; Ramirez, Abby 2 ; Romero, Sierra 2 ; Susalla, Kelsey 1 ; Richvalsky, Olivia 1 ; Christner, Kelly 1 ; Richardson, Courtney 1 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 2
CS: Christner, Kelly 1
HBP: Christner, Kelly 1 ; Sobczak, Alex 1 ; Montemarano, Lindsay 1
Base Running:
HBP: Sanchez, Amanda 1
