Sophomores, Betsa Highlight Wolverine Wins on Opening Day

Friday, February 10

Tampa, Fla.

11:30 AM

Michigan

1-0

Delaware

0-1

Delaware

Michigan

Sophomores, Betsa Highlight Wolverine Wins on Opening Day

2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 10, 2017

» Michigan earned opening-day wins against Delaware, 7-0, and Illinois State, 4-2, to kick off the 2017 season at the Wilson-Demarini Tournament.
» Sophomores Natalie Peters, Alex Sobczak, Courtney Richardson and Faith Canfield combined for 12 hits and eight RBI; Richardson posted a three-run homer against ISU while she and Peters both tallied three hits against Delaware.
» RHP Megan Betsa and RHP Tera Blanco both recorded complete-game wins; Betsa tallied 15 strikeouts to shut out Delaware, while Blanco fanned eight against ISU.

• Delaware: Boxscore | Photo Gallery
• Illinois State: Boxscore | Photo Gallery

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
Event: USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament (Day 1 of 3)
Scores: #6 Michigan 7, Delaware; #6 Michigan 4, Illinois State 2
Records: U-M (2-0), UD (0-1), ISU (0-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 11 -- vs. Florida - USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament (Tampa, Fla.), 12:30 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan softball team kicked off the 2017 season with a pair of wins, knocking off Delaware, 7-0, and Illinois State, 4-2, at the annual USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament on Friday (Feb. 10) at the USF Softball Stadium.

With graduation creating several new openings in the Wolverines' lineup, the sophomore class made its presence felt on opening day as rightfielder Natalie Peters, catcher Alex Sobczak, leftfielder Courtney Richardson and second baseman Faith Canfield combined for 12 of U-M's 19 hits on the day and eight of its 10 RBI. Richardson belted a three-run homer in the Illinois State contest, while she and Peters tallied three hits apiece against Delaware.

Senior RHP Megan Betsa and junior RHP Tera Blanco both registered complete-game efforts from the circle. Betsa, who sat out Michigan's fall exhibition slate, was spectacular in her first game appearance in eight months. She posted 15 strikeouts -- just one shy of her single-game best -- while allowing three hits and four walks en route to the shutout win. Blanco recorded eight strikeouts and allowed two runs off of three hits -- one being a two-run homer in the third -- and four walks.

The Wolverines scored in each of the first three innings in the opener against Delaware, including a three spot in the second when Richardson, Canfield and Peters posted hits in consecutive at-bats to turn the order over and break the game open. Peters notched her first of two RBI in the game with a first-pitch double down the leftfield line.

The sophomore trio initiated another Michigan surge in the sixth inning, leading off the frame with three straight hits as the Wolverines plated two more to flirt with the run-rule margin.

Betsa, who walked the first two batters of the game before reeling off six straight strikeouts, got out of a two-baserunner jam in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but did not allow a runner past second base. She ended six of seven frames with a strikeout.

Michigan rolled right into its second slate and struck quickly against the Redbirds when Sobczak, who also threw out a pair of baserunners on the day, punched a two-out RBI single through the left side in the first inning. Richardson padded the Wolverines in the fourth, smashing a first-pitch, three-run bomb deep over the leftfield fence -- her second career long ball.

Illinois State followed suit in the home half of the inning with a no-out, two-run blast of its own, but Blanco retired the next seven batters faced to regain her groove. The Redbirds didn't have another baserunner until drawing a one-out walk in the seventh; Blanco again responded, dealing back-to-back strikeouts to close out the contest.

Michigan (2-0) continues competition at the USF Wilson-Demarini Tournament with a pair of games against ranked opponents tomorrow (Feb. 11), taking on No. 4 Florida at 12:30 p.m. and No. 25 USF at 5:30 p.m. at the Bulls' USF Softball Stadium.

Communications Contact: Leah Howard