Michigan's Megan Betsa struck out the side in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa earned her second no-hitter in less than two weeks' time to headline No. 4 Michigan's 1-0 victory at Maryland on Sunday afternoon at the Maryland Softball Complex. With the win, the Wolverines swept the three-game road series against the Big Ten Conference newcomer.
Betsa faced two batters past the minimum 21, issuing leadoff walks in the second and sixth innings. She fanned 15 Terrapins batters -- just one shy of her career best -- and, with U-M clinging to its narrow 1-0 lead, struck out the side in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner and senior catcher Lauren Sweet headlined the Wolverine offense with two hits apiece, while junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla pushed across the contest's lone run on a fourth-inning RBI single. The Wolverines tallied just six hits and left five stranded.
Maryland's best opportunity came after the leadoff walk in the second, advancing the runner to scoring position with a subsequent sac bunt. Betsa responded with back-to-back strikeouts -- on just eight pitches -- to end the threat.
Christner initiated the Wolverine rally in the fourth, ripping a leadoff double into the left centerfield gap and advancing to third when the Terp leftfielder bobbled the ball. She came home when Susalla knocked an RBI single into rightfield in the next at-bat.
The Wolverines also tallied hits in the fifth and sixth innings but went down in order in the top of the seventh. With just three out remaining, Betsa fanned the first Terp batters -- on four pitches apiece -- before dealing a game-ending punchout.
