Softball smashes PSU, 17-0; quiets PSU coach
#19 Michigan took on Penn State today on a wet Alumni Field surface for the final game in the weekend series.
During the week, PSU's head coach had a few comments she made to their student paper. Apparently the team took exception to them-
Michigan beat PSU 3-0 and 8-0 in 5 the last two days, going for the BIG kill today.
And boy did it happen.
Katie Alexander got the mauling started with an RBI double in the 1st inning to get Michigan their first run of the game. Tera Blanco then CRASHED the ball out of Alumni Field on a shot you could hear and know it was gone to make it 4-0 Michigan after the 1st inning.
A first inning where Michigan batted around and chased Penn State's pitcher. FIRST INNING!
After a quick T2, the Wolverines added six runs in the 2nd inning. Madison Richardson had an RBI single, Monte had a 2-RBI single and then Faith Canfield gave herself 2 RBIs on a double. 10-0 Michigan was the score after just two innings.
Michigan also chased another PSU pitcher.
Well, another quick T3 and then Michigan continued to slap PSU around. Blanco picked up her 4th RBI of the day on a sac fly to make it 11-0, and then freshman Madison Uden subbed in and recorded her first at bat in B1G play and got her first career RBIs to make it 13-0 Michigan. Michigan chased yet another PSU pitcher in the 3rd inning, making it 3-for-3.
The Wolverines would have their last at bat in the 4th inning, and continue the punishment.
In her first collegiate at bat, the freshman catcher Abby Skvarce got a base knock.
Alex Sobczak made it 14-0 on an RBI double, and then Blanco added more to her stats with a 2-run double, scoring Skvarce. 16-0 Michigan.
Kelly Christner would finish things off with an RBI single into center field, scoring bullpen catcher Morgan Swift. Michigan also chased another PSU pitcher this inning.
Four innings where Michigan was at the plate, four times they chased a PSU pitcher.
Michigan annihilates Penn State, 17-0 in 5 innings.
Why their coach would say anything like that about a team they're 7-67 against all-time is beyond me. Borderline insane. That's like poking a bear that can fly and breathes fire.
Michigan outscored PSU by a combined total of 28-0 on the weekend, aka the halftime score of the Football game this year. PSU did not bunt to save face, though.
Michigan is now 22-7-1 and is 3-0 in the B1G. Next up is a road game at Central Michigan on Tuesday at 4pm.
Holy shit, maybe we could save some runs for other games?
Hopefully, this weekend will fuel the offense in future games.
Maverick Morgan effect.
You just watch.
Your team is soft Hutch, white collar. Do you hear me? Soft I say! (Yeah, yeah - that's what she said)
and all who root for them
What the hell is Lehotak doing running her mouth about Michigan? PSU barely looks like a D1 softball team against us. I think they go through 7 different pitchers every time they face us. Not to mention that none of her players can field their positions. Every time I've watched them the last few years, they whiff on the most routine plays multiple times a game. Hell, if it weren't for them doing that today, we'd have only scored maybe 9 runs.
I have 10 to 49 reasons why shitting on Penn St will never get old
Why would she poke the bear?
She is in her fourth year and should be smarter than that.
We own Penn State
She isn't wrong. We graduated a lot of power. But coming from her specifically, given PSU's not-goodness, these comments are just odd. Plus, as always, fuck Penn State.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^
Sometimes comments are just not that noteworthy!
March 27th, 2017 at 12:56 AM ^
Penn State's pitchers had to throw a total of 170 pitches just to get through 4 innings? That's just ridiculous...42.5 pitches per inning.
I agree with you; it's always a little surprising if you create some models and simulate run-scoring: constructing a batting order matters much less than you would think, once you take care of the obvious stuff like having speedsters with high OBP's in the first couple of spots, power hitters with high SLG's in the next few spots, and your worst hitters at the bottom, in descending order of OPS. Once you do that, you can probably only squeeze another run every 10 games or so by finding a "perfect" lineup compared to a "pretty good" lineup.
Yeah, that interview does seem like it could easily have #HotTakesExposed right after it now.
Also, for several years now, it feels especially right and moral to beat Penn State.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^
But when B1G or other network makes M Softball games available, I absolutely love tuning into the games even if it's supposedly only switched on in the background, otherwise this dude picks up the slack I trust. I thorougly enjoy this aspect of our U athletic programs
her comments were that far out of line. The team hasn't been playing as well as they have in past seasons. The beating they put on PSU over the weekend is hopefully a good sign they get on a roll now.
UM just played 5 home games against the MAC, and 3 against PSU, with a few blowouts. Why can't Crockett get to pitch a few innings ?
March 27th, 2017 at 12:35 PM ^
don't poke the wolverine Lehotak