#2 Michigan Softball vs. Maryland Live on BTN
From mgoblue.com:
The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan softball team (34-4, 12-2 Big Ten) will remain at home this weekend, continuing its homestand with a three-game series against Maryland (11-32, 3-11 Big Ten) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field. The series will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday (April 22), continue with a 2 p.m. game Saturday (April 23), and wrap with a 1 p.m. matchup Sunday (April 24). Saturday and Sunday's games are already sold out.
Michigan reestablished itself atop the Big Ten standings after earning a three-game weekend sweep against Ohio State (Oct. 15-17), which had entered the weekend with a half-game advantage. With their 12-2 league record, the Wolverines now have a narrow one-game advantage on Minnesota (11-3) and Penn State (11-3).
The Wolverines are looking for their 19th Big Ten title in program history. U-M has won 18 of the last 21 B1G championships, including at least a share of the last eight crowns. No other team has a stretch of more than two in a row (Northwestern, 1984-85).
Finally, a game I get to sit down & watch live... and of course we lead things off with an error. Frustrating. :p
Big pair of Ks for Betsa to work out of the jam after loading the bases! Last 3 at-bats looked much more controlled, even though one was a walk, than the couple before that. Hopefully she was just a little rattled by that error, and has it back on track.
I like the white board in our dugout that I've seen the last couple games: "Discipline, Violence of Action". :)
Yes! Big bases-loaded hit from Blanco plates a pair! I thought she'd gone fishing & was going to strike out, but she poked it beautifully up the middle. 2-0!
Not often that a team is "lucky" to get out of an inning giving up 4 runs, but ... yeah, Terps were lucky Ramirez didn't get her barrel to one of those & turn this into a laugher. Great start, just gotta keep up the pressure!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
You know your team is dominant when the announcers spend all their time talking about how "impressive" it is that Maryland is only losing 4-0 in the 3rd.
1-2-3 both ways in the B2/T3. Susalla due up to start the 3rd for the Maize & Blue. Let's stretch that lead!
Couple really close plays at 1st base to give us 2 outs against, but we manufacture a run with the outs, and then a hit up the middle for another! 6-0, one on, two out!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I was thinking that too. I did go back & check on the two plays at 1st base (tivo), and I'm pretty sure the ump got them right. Incredibly close plays either way.
Betsa gets into a little trouble, gives up a hit that maybe should've been ruled an error to concede Maryland's first run, but gets a big K to kill the rally. 6-1, middle 4.
Very weird play goes to Michigan's advantage. Maryland outfielder appears to have blown up her knee against the outfield fence, turning a deep fly ball into an inside-the-park home run for Susalla. 8-1, but not too many cheers and the Alumni Field crowd is hoping the Maryland player is ok.
Yeah - definitely did not look good. We'll take the runs, but obviously not the way you want to get them.
Yeah, you never want to see that. That looked like it was probably pretty bad. Poor kid.
Thanks for updates - GO BLUE!!! I'm watching Caps-Flyers.
for Susalla makes it 8-1, but costlier to Maryland was the leg (knee) injury to their rightfielder, who crumpled to the ground when she appeared to twist her knee as she reached the warning track.
It'll be a reloading year. We lose both Sierras and Kelsey Susalla at the top of the order. Christner and Blanco will be the big bats left in the lineup. We'll have to see how this year's freshman (and next year's for that matter) step up. Faith Canfield does seem to be coming into her own, though. She'll be expected to step in for Romero in the infield most likely.
Good question - I thought Swearingen was going to push for PT this season, but Monte recovered from a slow start to retain her spot. Losing Susalla & the Sierras will definitely open up some spots in the line-up. I figure Ramirez moves up to the lead-off spot, which she basically already plays, batting 9th. Sobczak, Canfield & Swearingen should figure in to our plans in a significant way as well. We'll need at least a couple of them & maybe a freshman or two to step up. Would also help if Christner could recapture her form from last year.
Hutch bringing in the back-ups with the 7-run lead. Good chance to get them some B10 experience here.
Betsa still fighting through this game. Kinda been up & down today. Needs another K or two to get back in her groove.
There it is! K and a ground-out get Betsa out of the jam, Michigan just needs one run to end this one early. 8-1, B5.
Minnesota 1, Nebraska 0
Georgia 1, #3/2 Auburn 0
Come on Nebraska. Take 1 from them.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I wonder if the immediate thought process for Romero in situations like this (as they happen a good amount) go something like this. "Ugh. They're gonna walk me, aren't they? *eyeroll*"
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Christner sac fly with the bases loaded, and Michigan walks off in 5! 9-1, a thorough drubbing. Betsa wasn't at her sharpest, but she battled & got the big outs when she needed to, multiple times stranding runners at 3rd base. Offense hit through the line-up and got the job done. Good start to the weekend.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I was able to go to one of our games at Maryland last year, and it jumped out to me at every stage of the game what a different level our program is at compared to theirs. Even during warm-ups, everything was fast, crisp, and intense. It looked like pros versus amateurs - a dynamic that played out all the way to the end of the game.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Nice - GO BLUE!!!!! Flyers and Caps are tied at 0 after first period. Skins signed Josh Norman...gonna be an interesting season in the NFL for me.
April 22nd, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^
Was a great win and performance. If Blanco could've gotten to the ball at first, Betsa would've had a no-hitter.
The most important thing is that Michigan won, though. And scored at ease.
April 22nd, 2016 at 11:56 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
April 23rd, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
Hutch can only manage one of those...............