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Megan Betsa is Key to Michigan Softball Winning Women’s College World Series

By Chris Peterson

Jun 10, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; General view of the NCAA logo at Hayward Field in advance of the 2014 NCAA Track & Field Championships. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sport.
Jun 10, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; General view of the NCAA logo at Hayward Field in advance of the 2014 NCAA Track & Field Championships. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sport. /
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In order to win the Women’s College World Series, the Michigan softball team will need more performances like the one it got from Megan Betsa Friday night against LSU.

Although the opening game of the WCWS for the Michigan softball team was played a day later than expected, the result was still a good one for the Wolverines as they advanced thanks to a 2-0 win over the Tigers.

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It was a gritty battle between the two teams and was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning, when a Tera Blanco double scored two Michigan softball players. It also gave the Wolverines a 2-0 that they wouldn’t relinquish.

Or more accurately, that starting pitcher Megan Betsa wouldn’t relinquish.

While there were many key factors in Michigan’s win Friday night in Oklahoma City over 10th-seeded LSU, the biggest factor was Betsa.

The junior was once again a warrior on the mound for the Wolverines. By the time she retired the final three batters of the game in the top of the seventh inning, she had tossed 122 pitches and at the same time, notched her ninth complete-game shutout of the season.

Over the course of the game, Betsa allowed four hits and two walks. But every time she got herself into a jam, she was able to pitch her way out of it. Just like in the fourth and fifth innings, when she used inning-ending strikeouts to keep LSU off the board. Both times the Tigers stranded two runners.

Betsa certainly got help from her defense and the offense gave her just enough production to get the win. But her eight strike outs, as well as her ability to get key outs when needed, was the real reason Michigan edged out a victory.

Now, the Wolverines will turn their attention to third-seeded Oklahoma. The two teams, which are the highest remaining seeds in the tournament, will play tonight at 8:30 PM CST on ESPN2.

The game against the Sooners, is another key battle for the Wolverines, who have their sights set on reaching the WCWS final for the second consecutive season. In order to do that, Betsa is going to have to continue to pitch gem after gem.

Sure the Michigan offense is more than capable of carrying the team if she has an off day, but at this point in the season, with the level of competition so high, one off day from your starting pitcher, could mean a world of trouble.

Sierra Romero may be the National Player of the Year and Blanco is an All-American. But when it comes to Michigan’s national-title hopes — those still rest with Betsa.

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Hopefully her right arm can hold up, but knowing Betsa and the Wolverines, I wouldn’t bet against it.

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