SB Sweeps at FAU Tourney; now 12-2
With all the excitment of the BB game, I wanted to throw in this other piece of good news as well. SB Team 37 completed its sweep of the FAU Tourney in Boca Raton. They defeated the home Owls 1-0 by the strong arm of Freshman Megan Besta.
Megan gets the game ball as she dominated the Owls the entire game. She scattered 3 hits and finished with 11 Ks and 1 BB. She raised her record to 5-0 and gives us that Starting-Pitcher quality from the pen. She will certainly help us in the second half of the season.
The offense we held in check by Owl Freshman Pitcher Kylee Hansen. Kylee only allowed 1 run off three hits. She had 5 Ks and 3 BBs. The key 6th inning saw Silo hit a double in the gap with 2 outs. Romo was on the bench for a much-needed rest but came on to pinch hit. Kylee walked Romo which at the time was a good move. With two outs, Kylee hit Taylor which loaded the bases for us. Then a frazzled Kylee threw for straight balls to Lauren to force in the lead and winning run.
Overall this is the best weekend by far for us. We beat #5 Kentucky and dominated the rest of the pack prior to today. Today's game was a test of wills and our roster top to bottom is much better. Megan should be recognized again this week for her performance.
Coach Hutch gets much love for her ability to juggle this talented pitching staff and give players much needed rest at the perfect opportunity.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:11 PM ^
a Softball Posbang?
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
That sounds sexual.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
More good news is always welcome, especially on a day like today. Congratulations to the softball team on sweeping the FAU tournament and on this great start to their season.
That's two sweeps completed today then - not a bad performance for University Of Michigan athletics this weekend overall, I would think. Hockey on Saturday, basketball and softball today.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
allowing just ONE run in 5 games!!!
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
the pleasure to watch Megan during Fall-Ball. I though to myself, "She is going to be really good in a year or two". Now I am sure my statement will prove out to be true; however, I may not have expected it this soon in her career.
February 23rd, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
Megan has shown she has great stamina. She seems to get better as the game proceeds. In today's game, she retired FAU's final 15 batters from the bottom of the 3rd to the bottom of the 7th. (Technically, I suppose, she didn't retire the last FAU batter in the bottom of the 3rd. With an FAU runner on 2nd (the first batter of the inning with a bunt single), that batter hit a hard grounder that caromed off of Megan's glove. From 3B, Monte alertly moved to her left to field the carom and easily threw out the runner, who was trying to score from 2nd, at home. The batter was given a single.) Megan finished the game by striking out 2 batters in the 5th and 2 batters in the 7th. In the USF game, she retired the last 6 batters to preserve a 1-run lead, striking out the last 2 batters in the bottom of the 7th. She has pitched complete games in 4 of the 5 games she has started. The only exception is the Bethune-Cookman run-rule game where she split the innings with Sara. Hutch has been concerned about Megan's control. However, in the two games she pitched this weekend, Megan gave up only 2 walks, 1 HBP, and 0 WP.
Romo actually entered the game in the bottom of 5th replacing Kelsey in the field but playing SS. Abby, who had been playing SS, moved over to 2nd, where Kelsey had been playing. Batting after Silo in Kelsey's spot, Romo got the IBB following Silo's double with 2 outs leading, eventually, to the winning run. . That is the second time this season where intentionally walking Romo in a close game has not proven to be a successful strategy. In the USF game with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the top of the 6th with 2 outs, Romo was given an IBB. Caitlin followed with a 2-run single to provide the tying and winning runs.
February 23rd, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
February 23rd, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
That's what's reall exciting to me - Michigan hasn't played this good of defense in a *long* time. I'm not too worried about the offense having a bit of an off weekend, since we've just got so much talent in that department, they're bound to break through. If we can keep getting defense at anything like this level, look out.
February 23rd, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
February 23rd, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
be her greatest asset. This kid can flat-out fly. I look for her to lead-off next year. I think we have another Bree Evans in the waiting here.
February 23rd, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
That is awesome, thanks for the insights! I haven't gotten to see the team play yet, and probably won't until we get to conference play & BTN starts helping us out. I love hearing from people who've gotten to actually witness what's going on beyond the stat-sheet, and of course good news about the freshmen is exactly what we want to hear!
February 24th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
If you have access to the Pac-12 Networks, you can see Michigan's game against UCLA at 7 PM (PT) on Wednesday, March 5. This game will be played at UCLA. Michigan also plays UCLA on Friday afternoon, February 28, at the Mayfair Invitational at Mayfair Park in Lakewood, CA. Here is a link to the UCLA schedule: http://www.uclabruins.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&SPID=126919&…;
UCLA, undefeated at 16-0, is a top 10 team and was ranked last week at #8/#9. This is a brutal stretch for Michigan. After playing the Wednesday night game at UCLA, Michigan then plays top 5 teams Arizona State and Washington back-to-back the next afternoon at the Judi Garman Classic at Cal State Fullerton. On Friday afternoon, Michigan plays Houston and #14 Arizona back-to-back followed by #25 Texas on Saturday morning. MIchigan will be sorely tested on its Cali trip. This trip should be great for recruiting.
February 24th, 2014 at 1:04 AM ^
You might also mention freshman Kelly Christner. While she didn't play against FAU, she played 1B, RF and CF in the other 4 games at the FAU tournament. As an outfielder she has great range and can go back and catch fly balls that often give other softball outfielders difficulty. She is also supposed to have a very good arm. I don't doubt it. I won't be surprised to see Kelly in CF next year. Kelly has also turned into a very capable first baseman. She fields grounders and bunts very well and throws accurately and quickly to first on bunts. She doesn't drop throws to first. In the key Kentucky game, Hutch played Kelly at first just for her defensive abilities (i.e., she didn't bat). She just needs to improve her hitting and I am sure she will. She has had her moments but she has not been consistent. To show you how much the team has relied upon these three freshman fielders, they rank through Saturday #3 (Abby), #4 (Kelly) and #5 (Monte) in chances after #1 Lauren and #2 Caitlin. Romo is #6 in chances. Monte and Abby are #1 and #2 in assists, respectively. Romo is #3 in assists trailing Monte by 11 assists and Abby by 7 assists. Yet, despite their high team ranking in chances and assists, the three freshmen have made no errors so far this season. These freshmen are great. And so is the fourth freshman, Megan.
February 24th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^