(Photo Courtesy of Michigan Athletics)
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Freshman pitcher Megan Betsa (McDonough, Ga./Union Grove) of the No. 7-ranked University of Michigan softball team tossed a 1-0 complete-game shutout against Florida Atlantic Sunday (Feb. 23), extending the scoreless innings streak thrown by U-M pitchers to 32. The Wolverines went 5-0 at the FAU Invitational held at FAU Softball Stadium.
The Maize and Blue has shut out its last four opponents, including back-to-back 1-0 wins (vs. Kent State Feb. 22).
Betsa was stingy in the circle against the Owls, striking out 11. That marks the second double-digit strikeout tally for the righty in her five starts (13 vs. Central Arkansas, Feb. 15). She opened the game by striking out the side in the first and the second and then closed the game with a pair of punchouts in the seventh.
The freshman scattered three singles, only one of which went into the outfield.
The two infield heats led to a FAU scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third. FAU’s nine hitter Lindsey Shell on a hit, then moved to third on a sacrifice and another base hit. With two outs, she was pegged at the plate on a 1-5-2 putout to preserve the scorelees tie.
The Maize and Blue took an unconventional route to break the scoreless tie in the sixth. Following a two-out double into right center gap by sophomore Sierra Lawrence (Snellville, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian), sophomore Sierra Romero (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) came off the bench for her first career pinch-hitting opportunity. The Owls intentionally walked the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and then FAU pitcher Kylee Hanson hit pinch hitter senior Taylor Hasselbach (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases.
Junior Lauren Sweet (Corona, Calif./Santiago) then watched four pitches go by, taking a walk to force in the game’s deciding run.
Betsa did not let up in the seventh, setting the Owls down 1-2-3. She moved her record to a perfect 5-0 after her first five collegiate starts.
