Courtesy of Michigan Athletics
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan softball team used clutch pitching and solid hitting from the middle of the lineup to claim a doubleheader sweep at No. 6 Florida State, 6-5 and 2-1, on Saturday evening (Feb. 14) in front of 1,208 fans at JoAnne Graf Field. It was the Wolverines’ first trip back to Tallahassee since FSU ended their 2014 season in NCAA Super Regional play.
Senior catcher Lauren Sweet headlined the Wolverines’ offensive efforts for the second straight day, going 2-for-5 from the plate with three runs batted in and driving in the game-winning runs in both contests. Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner boasted a career-best three hits in the nightcap, while junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla tallied three hits on the day. Junior shortstop Sierra Romero went 2-for-4 in the first game, belting out her second home run of the season.
Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa improved to 3-0 on the season with a solid complete-game effort in the nightcap, striking out five while allowing just two hits and six walks. Senior LHP Haylie Wagner earned the decision in the first game, improving to 2-1, striking out four while allowing 10 hits and no walk through four innings. Betsa entered with one down and runners on second and third in the seventh inning and closed out the contest with just nine pitches, striking out one before forcing a game-ending flyout for her first save of her career.
The Wolverines won a wild one on the first end of the twinbill after retaking a narrow one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning. Michigan spread its first four runs across three innings, including two in the second off a Susalla RBI triple and FSU fielding error. Michigan added one run apiece in the third and fourth frames on Romero’s solo shot and an RBI single to center from sophomore second baseman Abby Ramirez, respectively.
Florida State stole the lead with a four-run fourth inning. The Seminoles recorded three consecutive infield singles to lead off the inning, scoring runs on a bunt single and a groundout before shortstop Maddie O’Brien cleared the bases with a two-out, two-run blast to deep centerfield.
The Wolverines responded in the next frame, scoring the go-ahead runs off two hits, a walk and a wild pitch. Christner walked to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a Romero single and scored after two wild pitches in the next at-bat. With two down, Sweet knocked an RBI single up the middle, driving home Romero from third base for the winning run.
Michigan scored two in the third inning to take the initial advantage in the nightcap. With the bases loaded and two outs following back-to-back singles and an intentional walk to Romero, Sweet poked a two-run single through the rightside gap — her second RBI hit of the day.
The Seminoles spoiled Betsa’s shutout bid in the fifth inning when leftfielder Alex Kossoff tripled to centerfield on the inning’s first pitch and scored on the next, a successful squeeze bunt from Ellie Cooper. U-M quickly ended the threat as Betsa forced a popup bunt and flyout — on just four pitches — and Sweet threw out Cooper at second base.
FSU again threatened in the bottom of the seven with a pair of two-out walks to put the tying run in scoring position for the top of the order, but sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano corralled the 2-2 grounder and stepped on the bag for the game-ending forceout.
The Wolverines will close out play at the Unconquered Invitational tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 15), squaring off against Georgia Tech at 10 a.m. at JoAnne Graf Field.
