No. 2 Michigan Rolls Softball

Saturday, May 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Rutgers

24-31, 8-14

Michigan

43-4, 20-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	0
Michigan	3	2	0	6	X	11	12	0

May 07 | Softball

Box Score

May 7, 2016

Final Stats

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (May 7, 2016) -- Continuing the series against its highest ranked foe of the year, the Rutgers softball team suffered a five-inning,11-1 loss at No. 2 Michigan on Saturday at Alumni Field. The contest marked RU's third appearance of the season on Big Ten Network.

Rutgers dropped to an overall record of 24-31 and a Big Ten mark of 8-14, while Michigan improved to 43-4 overall and 20-2 in the league.

Senior Dresden Maddox (Kennesaw, Ga.) (9-14) suffered the loss for RU, as Michigan's Sara Driesenga (20-0) earned the complete-game victory.

Freshman Nicolette Anico (Liberty County, Fla.) led the Scarlet Knights for the second time in the series with a hit and an RBI. Juniors Carly Todd (Deptford, N.J.) and Bridget Carr (Pequannock, N.J.) also added a hit each on the day.

Four Wolverines added two hits each, while three also added two RBIs each in the win. Tera Blanco, Sierra Romero, and Faith Canfield each registered a two-run home run, as Romero posted a game-high four RBIs for Michigan.

Sierra Lawrence led off the bottom of the first inning with a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Romero followed with a sacrifice fly to add the first run of the game. With two outs on the board, Blanco registered a two-run home run to give the Wolverines a 3-0 edge. Maddox retired the next batter at the plate to end the frame.

Senior Melanie Slowinski (Severn, Md.) got things rolling in the top of the second, drawing a walk to open the inning. Classmate Elizabeth Adams (Crystal Lake, Ill.) would reach on a fielder's choice as both runners remained safe on base. Up next, Todd reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Slowinski to the third. A single for Anico then sent Slowinski home to cut into the deficit 3-1.

After the Wolverines loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, a walk for Romero forced in a run. Up next, Kelly Chirstner reached on a fielder's choice to send in another UM run. Maddox then induced a pop up for the third out to hold Michigan to two runs and a 5-1 advantage.

Despite a one-out double for UM's Aidan Falk in the third, Maddox held strong in the circle retiring the following two batters at the plate to put up a zero up.

With two outs on the board in the fourth, Todd kept the frame alive for RU, drilling a single through the right side. Although Todd would go on to steal second, the Scarlet Knights were unable to bring her home.

Michigan added six runs on six hits to push its lead to 11-1. A one-out, two-run homer for Romero plated the first runs of the frame. A double for Falk added the next two runs followed by Canfield with a two-run homer of her own.

Although Carr led off the fifth with a single, the Scarlet Knights were unable to find an offensive rhythm as the game ended in five.

UP NEXT
Rutgers and Michigan conclude the series on Sunday with a contest slated for 12 p.m. ET.

KNIGHT NOTES

Rutgers competed in its 14 game against a ranked opponent on Saturday. RU has crossed paths with seven ranked foes this season.

Rutgers made its third appearance on Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights debuted on the air this season with a series-winning victory at Illinois and followed with a pair of wins in a doubleheader at Maryland.
Nicolette Anico registered her third hit of the series. Against ranked opponents, Anico leads RU with a .333 batting average and .444 on base perecentage on 10 appearances.

The 11 runs allowed marked the most by a Big Ten foe this season since RU allowed 17 to No. 24 Ohio State on April 8.

Follow Rutgers Softball on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter (@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics).

- RU-