BTN.com staff, May 30, 2015
Oh what a night! Earned ourselves a day off tomorrow! #WCWS #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/mjBDSlIsfN
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) May 30, 2015
For the second time in three games, No. 3 Michigan overcame an early three-run deficit, surging past No. 7 UCLA, 10-4, in its winner's bracket matchup Friday night at the NCAA Women's College World Series.
[ MORE: Get box score, recap & video ]
With their 27th consecutive victory, the Wolverines earn a day off and will resume play against the emerging team from the bottom half of the loser's bracket at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
Michigan's offense exploded for 15 hits — its best of the NCAA Tournament to date — and after UCLA retied the game in the third, it plated runs in each of the final three frames to pull away.
Seven different Wolverines recorded hits, most notably junior rightfielder Kelsey Susalla, who boasted a career-best four hits, going 4-for-4 with a walk and three runs batted in, and sophomore leftfielder Kelly Christner, who went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez also registered three hits, while sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano drove in two runs.
[ MORE: View the official NCAA tourney bracket ]
Senior LHP Haylie Wagner (23-2) earned the victory in relief — again, for the second time in three games — with a spectacular four-hit, one-walk effort against a UCLA lineup that led the WCWS field in several offensive categories. She fanned five Bruin batters through 6.1 innings pitched.
Good night Wolverine fans. We'll leave you w #HappyHutch. #WCWS #GoBlue! pic.twitter.com/38QW4CodwT
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) May 30, 2015
??seeing Wagner come in & seize the opportunity 4 @umichsoftball tonite #WCWS U never know when & u ALL need 2 be ready in order 2 #WinItAll
— Jennie Finch (@JennieFinch) May 30, 2015
#GoBlue . Go to the Semis. @umichsoftball
— Lisa Byington (@LisaByington) May 30, 2015
These ladies are really good. @umichsoftball takes care of UCLA 10-4 to advance to the semis. #WCWS #GoBlue
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) May 30, 2015
— Mike Hart (@MHart2032) May 30, 2015