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Posted on Sun, May 19, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.

Michigan softball advances to super regional with 3-1 win over California

By Kyle Austin

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Update at 5:10 p.m.

Sophomore pitcher Sara Driesenga got the Michigan softball team to a regional title game with 14 innings of standout pitching.

On Sunday, she helped the Wolverines win their 16th regional title with -- according to her coach, at least -- heart and determination.

“I didn’t think she had her best stuff, but she had her heart and that was the most important thing we needed today,” Michigan coach Carol “Hutch” Hutchins said. “She was determined to get it done and I thought it was a great team effort for us.”

Driesenga pitched her third complete game in three days as Michigan topped California, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Hudsonville native gave up one run on five hits with five strikeouts.

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The Wolverines advance to play Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game super regional series next weekend at Alumni Field. The winner advances to the Women’s College World Series May 31-June 6 in Oklahoma City. Michigan topped the Ragin’ Cajuns, 3-1, in a Feb. 22 game.

“Playing Cal was a fantastic opponent for us to have to battle through because that’s the kind of opponent we’re going to see from here on out,” Hutchins said. “It is difficult but those that work through it can be champions.”

Michigan went 44-9 in the regular season largely behind an offense that scored more than seven runs per game, second-best in the NCAA.

But in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, pitching led the way. Driesenga finished the weekend with 21 innings pitched, giving up one run and on 12 hits throughout the three games. Coming into the regional, Driesenga hadn’t thrown a complete game shutout since late February. She threw two in a span of 48 hours Friday and Saturday in wins over Valparaiso and California, and was a home run away from a third Sunday.

She was also helped out Sunday by some stellar defense, particularly from third baseman Amy Knapp.

“I definitely had to depend on the defense a little bit more today,” Driesenga said. “They did great, they did exactly what they were supposed to do and to trust them is huge.”

After the Wolverines notched no hits in the first two innings, freshman shortstop Sierra Romero hit a two-run double to deep center field in the top of the third that scored two runs.

California's Cheyenne Cordes hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning for California's only offense of the day.

Cordes, the only player on the weekend to hit an extra base hit off of Driesenga came up twice more in key spots: in the bottom of the fifth, she came up with two outs and a runner on first. After falling behind three-and-one, Driesenga took a brief time out then came back with two swinging strikes to end the inning.

And in the bottom of the seventh, a controversial interference call on Michigan put two runners on base for Cordes. She flew out to the warning track to end the game.

“I went right at her,” Driesenga said of facing Cordes. “It doesn’t matter what she did before, I just focused on that one at-bat and each pitch at a time.”

The first Michigan hitter of the sixth inning, Caitlin Blanchard, hit a solo home run to put Michigan up by two, and California managed only two hits in its final three innings. Michigan leadoff hitter Lindsay Doyle had three of the Wolverines’ seven hits.

The biggest hit of the day came from Romero, the Big Ten Player of the Year. Romero drove in 66 runs during the regular season, 10th most per game in the country. But coming into Sunday she hadn’t driven in a run in her past five games, including two Big Ten tournament and two NCAA regional games.

She ended that drought with the hit that ended up sending Michigan to the next round.

“It’s a great experience,” Romero said. “It’s crazy that last year I was watching this on TV and now I’m here so it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.

Comments

Lou Belcher

Mon, May 20, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.

Well finally.....A2.com is noticing that U of M has a softball team....only when the team,that has accomplished so much all year; is in the super regional and receiving national coverage do we read anything about the young and talented Wolverines. Oh, and "M" baseball....I just read in the Detroit News that Michigan beat Nebraska and is in the Big Ten Tournament....is this news worthy of some coverage in Ann Arbor's sport pages?.....hello....anyone there?

Frank99

Mon, May 20, 2013 : 1:30 a.m.

Can some umpire out there tell me the rules regarding obstruction vs interference and if the ruling in the 7th inning was correct.

Kyle Austin

Mon, May 20, 2013 : 2:16 a.m.

Well I'm not an umpire, but this is what Hutch had to say on the play afterward if you're interested.. "The rule is that if the ball is by...not if it appears to be playable, if it's already gone by the fielder, we're not allowed to obstruct and they called obstruction, so I was trying to convince them that she was in the middle of her dive when the ball started getting by and I didn't win that fight, I don't know if you noticed. It turned the lineup over for them, it was huge."

Hailmary

Mon, May 20, 2013 : 1:30 a.m.

Way to go ladies.

semperveritas

Sun, May 19, 2013 : 10:10 p.m.

three ncaa games-------one run allowed-----a recipe for a regional win. sara was outstanding-----hitting was timely----another weekend at home.

MyOpinion

Sun, May 19, 2013 : 9:24 p.m.

Blanchard didn't hit a 3-run homer. She hit a solo shot that put MIchigan up 3-1. Romero knocked in 2 and Blanchard knocked in 1.

Kyle Austin

Sun, May 19, 2013 : 9:41 p.m.

Oops, you're right, thanks MyOpinion

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