Courtesy of Michigan Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan softball team repeated its performance against the same opponents from a day ago, sweeping Lipscomb, 13-1 in five innings, and No. 3 Alabama, 4-1, at the Easton Bama Bash on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 21) in front of 2,710 fans at the Crimson Tide’s Rhoads Stadium. U-M downed Lipscomb, 7-1, and Bama, 8-2, Friday (Feb. 20).
The Wolverines remained hot at the plate, matching a season-best 11 hits in the day’s first slate and knocking out three home runs in the twinbill, including two in the third inning against host Alabama. Senior catcher Lauren Sweet, junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla and freshman designated player Aidan Falk all registered multiple RBI with two-hit efforts against the Bison, while freshman first baseman Tera Blanco drove in three of U-M’s four runs against Bama.
Senior LHP Haylie Wagner and senior RHP Sara Driesenga both tossed complete-game performances from the circle. Wagner improved to 4-1 on the season with a five-hit effort against Crimson Tide, striking out one and allowing just one walk. Driesenga earned a four-hit, two-strikeout effort against Lipscomb to improve to 4-0.
Michigan got on the board quickly to take the early, first-inning lead against Alabama. Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner hit a one-out gapper to right side, advanced to third on similar right-side single in the next at-bat and scored on a deep centerfield sac fly from Blanco, tagging up and sliding in before the throw home.
Christner spurred another Wolverine surge in the top of the third, driving a full-count solo shot over the wall in deep centerfield for her second long ball of the season. After junior second baseman Sierra Romero was hit in the next at-bat, Blanco bombed another over the centerfield wall, clanging a two-run shot — her first collegiate home run — off the centerfield light pole.
The Crimson Tide put the leadoff runner on the fourth on a first-pitch hit-by-pitch, but Michigan immediately ended the threat, turning a 6-4-3 double play on the next pitch. Susalla then made a spectacular, over-the-shoulder catch on the rightfield warning track to end the inning.
Alabama spoiled Wagner’s shutout bid in the sixth, plating a run off two hits and a walk. With the bases loaded and one down, catcher Chaunsey Bell grounded out to third base but the run scored from third. A popup to shortshort ended the threat in the next at-bat.
The Wolverines jumped on Lipscomb early and often en route to their fourth run-rule victory of the season in the day’s opening slate. Susalla maintained her momentum from yesterday, rocketing a one-out, bases-clearing triple to dead center in her first trip to the plate. It was her second straight three-RBI effort.
The Bison got on the board with second baseman Baylee Williams’ leadoff solo shot in the third, but Michigan responded in the home half when Sweet ripped an RBI single through the right-side gap to reestablish the Wolverines’ three-run advantage.
Michigan padded its advantage into run-rule territory with an explosive, nine-run fourth inning. The Wolverines registered seven hits in the frame, including RBI knocks from Falk, Romero, Sweet and junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence. Falk drove in runs in both trips in the plate, including a two-run shot to centerfield — her first collegiate home run — in the second at-bat of the inning. Sweet ripped a three-run double into left center for her fourth multi-RBI effort of the season and second in as many games.
