BTN.com staff, May 2, 2015

With its 9-1 victory over Penn State on Saturday afternoon, the Michigan softball team (47-6, 20-2 Big Ten) clinched at least a share of the Big Ten Championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines secure the 19th conference championship in program history and eighth consecutive title.

Sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner registered her second straight three-hit performance, going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, to headline the Wolverine offense. Junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence and sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano both connected on two-run homers. Montemarano went 2-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch; she ended the game in the sixth with her two-run shot down the leftfield line.

Senior left-handed pitcher Haylie Wagner was solid in victory from the circle, striking out two while allowing just a single unearned run on seven scattered hits — none for extra bases — and no walks. For a full recap, click here.

Michigan will have the opportunity to clinch an outright Big Ten title tomorrow when the team wraps up the regular season at home against Penn State at 1 p.m. ET. With a pair of victories today, Minnesota (46-8, 20-3 Big Ten) still has a chance to earn a share of the Big Ten Championship.

The 2015 Big Ten Softball Tournament gets underway on Thursday, May 7, at Buckeye Field in Columbus, Ohio. The top 12 teams will qualify for the conference tournament, with the winner earning the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.

— MGoBlue.com