Betsa Strikes Out 16; Wolverines Surge Past PSU

Friday, April 29

State College, Pa.

6:00 PM

Michigan

39-4, 0

Penn State

28-19, 0

Michigan

Penn State

4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 29, 2016

Megan Betsa

» Michigan scored three runs in the top of the seventh and held off a rally in the home half to defeat Penn State, 4-2.
» RHP Megan Betsa matched her single-game best with 16 strikeouts, including nine in a row between the fourth and sixth innings; she allowed just two hits and a walk.
» Sierra Lawrence knocked out a two-run homer, and Kelsey Susalla tallies an RBI triple in the seventh inning.

• Box Score

Site: State College, Pa. (Nittany Lions Softball Park)
Scores: #2 Michigan 4, Penn State 2
Records: U-M (39-4, 16-2 Big Ten), PSU (29-18, 13-5 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 30 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 3 p.m.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh and held off a rally in the bottom half to claim a 4-2 decision against Penn State in the series opener Friday evening (April 29) at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.

Junior RHP Megan Betsa (19-3) was outstanding from the circle, matching her single-game best with 16 strikeouts while allowing two runs on just two hits and a walk. Betsa registered nine consecutive strikeouts late in the contest, setting down the side in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames.

The Wolverines finally provided her some run support in the top of the seventh, using a pair of extra-base hits to take their first lead of the game. Senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence posted her second home run in as many games -- ninth this season -- with a two-run bomb to leftfield. Junior shortstop Abby Ramirez drew a one-out walk to initiate the rally, and Lawrence connected with the 1-1 pitch and drove it just over the wall.

Junior leftfielder Kelly Christner settled for a hit-by-pitch two batters later after just missing foul down the rightfield line, but senior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla did not miss in the next at-bat, ripping an RBI triple just fair down the line to add some insurance.

Penn State cut the Wolverines' lead in the home half of the seventh, loading the bases with one out on a hit-by-pitch, single and a walk -- its first base runners of the contest. Betsa fielded a dribbler right of the circle for the second out, sacrificing the run, and ended the game with a five-pitch strikeout.

The Nittany Lions' only other hit of the contest came in the second hit when catcher Alyssa VanDerveer homered just fair down the leftfield line.

Michigan got the run back in the next half inning when senior second baseman Sierra Romero lined an RBI double over the centerfielder's head and hard off the wall, scoring junior third baseman Lindsay Montemarano, who reached on a leadoff bloop single, from second base.

Tweet of the Game

SEE YA, SI-LO! Lawrence bombs a two-run blast deep over the leftfield fence. Her 9th HR this year. 3-1 U-M. pic.twitter.com/VsY20AODCU

-- Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) April 29, 2016

Michigan will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, April 30), taking on Penn State at 3 p.m. at Nittany Lion Softball Park. With poor weather anticipated on Sunday, tomorrow's schedule could be modified to accommodate a doubleheader. Details will be announced when finalized.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard