Softball no-hits, shuts out Rutgers 20-0 in regular season finale

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

It wasn't 78-0, but man it was wonderful.

After #19 Michigan took out Rutgers yesterday in a doubleheader by scores of 6-1 and 19-1 in 5 innings, the Wolverines faced Rutgers in the regular season finale.

This team is playing its best ball at the right time and it continued today.

Top of the 1st, after Kelly Christner hit a leadoff double, fellow senior Abby Ramirez drove her in with a single.

Faith Canfield would then drive in Ramirez with a double of her own to make it 2-0 Michigan.

In the 2nd, Abby Ramirez drove in her second run in as many at bats to make it 3-0 Michigan, then Aidan Falk launched a ball over the fence for a 2-run shot, her second HR of the weekend to put Michigan up 5-0. 

Yesterday was an onslaught of runs in one inning. Today was more equally distributed.

The Wolverines plated 4 runs in the 3rd inning on a Kelly Christner RBI single, a fielder's choice, a bases loaded walk and a bases loaded groundout. Run rule territory just after 3 innings as Michigan led 9-0.

Rutgers at bats were quick and to the point. Either striking out or popping up. Most of their innings lasted under 5 minutes it seemed.

Michigan poured it on the 4th inning, with two outs. Something Michigan Softball is notorious for doing.

Kelly Christner hit her 8th HR of the season to get things started, to give Michigan double digit runs with a 10-0 lead. 

Freshman Haley Hoogenraad cleared the bases with a 3 RBI, pinch-hit double to make it 13-0 Michigan. Fellow freshman Madison Uden then hit a 2-run shot to make it 15-0 Wolverines after 4 innings.

Unfortunately for Rutgers, they were the home team and Michigan had another at bat.

Megan Betsa was replaced by Tera Blanco in the circle. Betsa finished with 5 Ks and no hits allowed through 3 innings. Hutch never pulls pitchers during no-hitters, but more important things are next weekend and Betsa having more rest is good.

After a quick inning by Blanco, Michigan would pick up the bats again. 

Michigan added two more runs on a 2 RBI double by Faith Canfield. And then Taylor Swearingen--who subbed in at 1B--SLUGGED a 3-run homer to left field to give Michigan the amazing 20-0 lead.

Blanco got the easy 3 outs in the bottom of the 5th and that was that.

Michigan mauls Rutgers, 20-0 in 5 innings in the regular season finale.

Tera Blanco and Megan Betsa combine for a no-hitter. The first combined no-hitter in program history, and the 41st no-hitter overall in the 40 year history of Michigan Softball.

Megan Betsa becomes just the 4th Wolverine pitcher to win 100 career games. The others being Sara Griffin (1995-98), Jordan Taylor (2008-11) and Haylie Wagner (2012-15).

Michigan also broke hit the 20-run mark for just the 8th time ever. 5 of them have been since 2013, to give you some perspective on how good this program has been.

Michigan is now 41-10-1 and finishes with a B1G record of 20-3. 

Michigan is the 2 seed in the B1G Tournament next weekend at home at Alumni Field. We'll find out later tonight how the bracket is set as things are still TBD. 

2 Michigan will play the winner of the 7v10 First Round game in the B1G Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday. 

Michigan hadn't played Rutgers until they joined the B1G in 2014-15.

And since then, Michigan is 9-0 against them and has outscored Rutgers by total of 132-7, averaging 14.6 runs per game.

RoseInBlue

May 7th, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^

Swearingen's homerun in the 5th was a absolute BOMB.  The ball landed like 50 feet past the left field wall.  Excellent hitting the entire series this weekend!

LSAClassOf2000

May 7th, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^

Embarrassing Rutgers is not a bad way to close out the regular season. They need to have that feeling on as close to a daily basis as possible so long as they remain in the Big Ten. 

I guess it is games like that make me wonder if the "#DumpOnTheGarden" tag for Rutgers athletic is not unwarranted. 

Perkis-Size Me

May 7th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^

I hope Delaney is happy with his recent NYC coverage for BTN, because Rutgers has demonstrated absolutely no other value of note. It does not excel in any one area. It's anywhere from meh to awful.

Fezzik

May 7th, 2017 at 6:45 PM ^

Is this a good time for me to start another Delany is awesome for adding Rutgers to the conference thread?

Why does their softball field look like a high school field?

Wolfman

May 7th, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^

I do hope they view this in the most positive context. Sure, they could have remained with a schedule guaranteeing them a modicum of success in all sports. However, their inclusion - don't know how they did that - if some of their alumni like Stern, Flockhart, Warren, et al., will do the BIG thing and make large endowments to their school, this could pay dividends in roughly five years. Look no further than MD and the hiring of Durkin. You will notice some of their most successful alumni allowed the moths to fly out of their wallets, and suddenly they are on course to finish no. 3 in the arms race for conference football. 

Oh Deer

May 7th, 2017 at 7:53 PM ^

Nice to see Rutgers softball living up to the example set by the rest of the teams on campus. Thanks for bringing that dumpster fire of a college into the BIG, Delany!

Michigan Arrogance

May 7th, 2017 at 8:16 PM ^

IDK if this deserves it's own thread, but I figured I put it here. Wife and 2 kids hauled it down with me to the games for the weekend. A few things:

Rutgers's field is very high school-ish, but I liked it b/c of the intimacy. no cost to park or for admission or anything. The teams were in and around the field among the crowd like HS players would be going from pen to dugout to the cages, etc. The pens were right outside the field and not fenced off. We stood 25 ft from Megan and Tera as they warmed up. Megan threw the 1st few practice whiffle balls over the fence pre-game lol (NBD to the girls)! We sat probably 20in from the fence in the 1st row - so probably 18-25 ft from home plate. The girls were pros. Had fun goofing around some pre-game, but went to business when it was time. No bad language, no bad attitudes, lots of smiles and focus. Game 1 was a typical game for M in 2017 - Betsa was sharp but walked a few when the ump squeezed the corners on her and they got one. M left a few too many stranded and only scored 6.

In game 2, I camped out behind 3rd (Hutch coaches 3rd when M is at bat) at the fence. After they sent 9 to the plate and all 9 scored in the 2nd, I yelled to Hutch to ask what she said to the team between games. She said they wouldn't let them eat till they started hitting LOL! Safe to say they are eating well in A2 this week. Saw Rutgers coach get kicked out for arguing with the umps - don't see that every day in softball.

After the 2nd game, there were about 20 girls waiting for autographs and pics (my daughter's 11 and pitches). Every girl on the team signed every ball and took pics for about 30 mins. At a road game. At Rutgers. Anyway, at the end, we get signatures and pics with Hutch - a great day.

This morning for game 3, we got there early to watch warm-ups and saw the team take BP. Very impressive. tee work, straight toss and hitting 1/4 deflated volleyballs off the bounce. These girls can put the bat to the ball and hurt it! Anyway, coach Tholl walks up to ask us where we're from, etc. Very nice to see her take an interest. I ask who's pitching and she said Betsa with Tera after a few just to get Tera some more work.

Game 3 was worse than the score indicated - Rutgers has some very bad errors: one on a pop up to second, two at short that were fairly routine. M emptied the bench at the plate and it seemed to me that all but 3 players that dressed reached base - one popped out, Betsa didn't hit, and I assume one other but IDK who that would be b/c every PH that came up seemed to hit the ball well. Kelly Christner put a hurting on the ball for her HR - my son has that ball right now. That HR by Swearigan was indeed a bomb as mentioned above- it landed past the little easement beyond the OF fence and up the hill- 50 ft is a good estimate. Wind was blowing out to left, but still. Christner also had a flat out robbery on a short fly to CF- I thought for sure it would drop but she dove and snagged it.

One thing we noticed was that M did a full BP and IF/OF before the game Sun, but Rutgers did very little. Not sure what the story is with the difference there, but it was strange to see such a disparity in pre-game prep. Overall for both days, I'd say it was about 50-50 R-M fans, 60-40 R at best. I've never seen girls hit like this. in BP and at the plate, the ball gets straight up HURT when M swings the bat. And their plate discipline is outstanding as well- very few offers at pitches out of the zone.

stephenrjking

May 8th, 2017 at 1:18 AM ^

Great stuff, sounds like a blast. I'm a little annoyed at myself for being slow to take to the idea of taking my kids to a softball game when the team is in town; they came to Minneapolis last season, but I wasn't ready to make the trip. I would totally go this year, but alas, no visit.

Ah well. Sounds like you had a great time. For road trips like that, smaller crowds can be a surprisingly big plus.

bweldon

May 7th, 2017 at 8:39 PM ^

And to think there were people who though having the Sierra's and crew graduate would cause this team to take a major step back.  Glad coach Hutch knows how to build depth and keeps bringing in tallent to promote competition within the team.

Look forward to seeing them in the tournaments.

Kevin13

May 8th, 2017 at 12:07 PM ^

Was watching one of their games on Saturday and couldn't believe the Rutgers softball field. I have seen better high school fields then that. They need to upgrade that field if they ever want to contend in the B1G.

1975Blue

May 8th, 2017 at 7:40 PM ^

UM plays on Friday against the winner of MSU/Indiana.   MSU played UM close a few weeks ago, losing by scores of 3-1 and 5-1.