U-M swings past SDSU with early offense

FULLERTON, Calif. -- No. 3 Michigan closed out its annual spring break trip with a dominant 10-2, five-inning win against San Diego State on the third day of competition at the Judi Garman Classic Saturday morning (March 7) at Anderson Family Field.

Seven different Wolverine batters tallied at least one base knock as U-M boasted double-digit hits for the third consecutive game. Freshman designated player Amanda Vargas starred in her first collegiate start, falling just a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-3 effort with two runs batted in. Junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence, sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner and senior catcher Lauren Sweet all posted two hits apiece, while Sweet and junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla knocked out home runs.

Senior LHP Haylie Wagner (9-1) earned the win, striking out three while allowing two runs off seven hits and a walk through 3.1 innings. Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa entered with a runner on and two down in the fourth and retired the next five SDSU batters in order on just 17 pitches, earning a pair of strikeouts.

The Wolverines got their bats working early, plating six runs off four hits and four walks in the first inning. Lawrence and Christner registered back-to-back singles to lead off the game, and junior second baseman Sierra Romero walked to load the bases with no outs, before Michigan started piling on runs, scoring first on a wild pitch and subsequent sac fly. Sweet bombed out the 0-1 pitch in the next at-bat, driving it deep over the fence in right centerfield. Vargas followed suit two batters later, knocking out her first collegiate home run on a two-run shot to rightfield.

San Diego State cut into the U-M lead with a run in the second, following a leadoff walk and two singles with a sac fly to right. The Aztecs added another run in the fourth, but not before Michigan cushioned its advantage with Susalla's three-run homer in the top half. Freshman first baseman Tera Blanco and Sweet singled to put two on, and Susalla took the first pitch of her at-bat deep to leftfield.

The Wolverines added one more in the fifth after a bunt single from Christner scored Lawrence all the way from first.