2015 Michigan Wolverines softball team

The 2015 Michigan Wolverines softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Michigan during the 2015 NCAA softball season. The Wolverines, led by head coach Carol Hutchins in her thirty-first season, played their home games at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines finished the season with a 60–8 record, including 21–2 in conference play. The Wolverines won the 2015 Big Ten Conference Softball Tournament and qualified for the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. They advanced to the finals of the Women's College World Series for the first time since 2005, where they lost to Florida.

2015 Michigan Wolverines softball
Women's College World Series Runner-up
Big Ten Regular Season Champions Big Ten Tournament Champions
Conference	Big Ten Conference
2015 record	60–8 (21–2 B1G)
Head coach	Carol Hutchins (31st season)
Assistant coach	Jennifer Brundage (18th season)
Home stadium	Alumni Field

2015 Big Ten Conference softball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 2 Michigan  ‍†‍‡‍^y	21	–	2		.913			60	–	8		.882
No. 15 Minnesota  ‍‍‍^y	20	–	3		.870			49	–	11		.817
Nebraska  ‍‍‍^y	17	–	6		.739			35	–	23		.603
Northwestern  ‍‍‍^y	14	–	8		.636			28	–	23		.549
Illinois  ‍‍‍	14	–	9		.609			26	–	27		.491
Ohio State  ‍‍‍	12	–	11		.522			30	–	22		.577
Rutgers  ‍‍‍	11	–	12		.478			29	–	20		.592
Penn State  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			29	–	28		.509
Maryland  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			27	–	27		.500
Iowa  ‍‍‍	8	–	15		.348			19	–	40		.322
Purdue  ‍‍‍	7	–	14		.333			31	–	25		.554
Indiana  ‍‍‍	7	–	14		.333			17	–	39		.304
Wisconsin  ‍‍‍	5	–	17		.227			21	–	31		.404
Michigan State  ‍‍‍	4	–	19		.174			19	–	36		.345
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament As of June 5, 2015[1]; Rankings from NFCA

Preseason

The Wolverines were ranked No. 8 in the nation according to the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason polls, becoming the top-ranked Big Ten school in both listings.[2][3] Sierra Lawrence, Sierra Romero and Haylie Wagner were all named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year preseason watch list.[4]

Personnel

Roster

2015 Michigan Wolverines roster
	Pitchers 3 Megan Betsa – Sophomore 10 Sara Driesenga – Senior 17 Haylie Wagner – Senior Outfielders 5 Olivia Richvalsky – Junior 8 Nikki Wald – Freshman 20 Mary Sbonek – Junior 21 Kelly Christner – Sophomore 22 Sierra Lawrence – Junior Utility 2 Aidan Falk – Freshman 7 Kelsey Susalla – Junior 23 Taylor Swearingen – Freshman 24 Tera Blanco – Freshman 32 Angie Danis – Freshman		Catchers 14 Lauren Connell – Junior 16 Morgan Swift – Freshman 19 Becca Garfinkel – Senior 25 Lauren Sweet – Senior Infielders 1 Abby Ramirez – Sophomore 12 Amanda Vargas – Freshman 18 Lindsay Montemarano – Sophomore 32 Sierra Romero – Junior
Reference:[5]

Coaches

2015 Michigan Wolverines coaching staff
Carol Hutchins – Head coach – 31st year Bonnie Tholl – Associate head coach – 13th year Jennifer Brundage – Assistant coach – 18th year Nikki Nemitz – Volunteer assistant coach – 4th year
Reference:[6]

Schedule

2015 Michigan Wolverines Softball Game Log
Regular Season (48–6)
February (17–1) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record B1G Record February 7 vs. No. 1 Florida No. 8 USF Softball Stadium Tampa, FL 1–2 Ocasio (1–0) Wagner (0–1) — 1,167 0–1 – February 7 vs. USF No. 8 USF Softball Stadium 4–3 Driesenga (1–0) Greiner (1–1) — 1,100 1–1 – February 8 vs. Hampton No. 8 USF Softball Stadium 9–2 Betsa (1–0) Babinsack (0–3) Wagner (1) 204 2–1 – February 8 vs. Illinois State No. 8 USF Softball Stadium 4–1 Driesenga (2–0) Romshek (2–2) — 217 3–1 – February 13 vs. Western Kentucky No. 7 JoAnne Graf Field Tallahassee, FL 8–0 (5) Wagner (1–1) Kramer (3–1) — — 4–1 – February 13 vs. Georgia Tech No. 7 JoAnne Graf Field 10–0 (5) Betsa (2–0) Kleinschmidt (0–4) — — 5–1 – February 14 at No. 6 Florida State No. 7 JoAnne Graf Field 6–5 Wagner (2–1) Waldrop (4–1) Betsa (1) — 6–1 – February 14 at No. 6 Florida State No. 7 JoAnne Graf Field 2–1 Betsa (3–0) Waldrop (4–2) — 1,208 7–1 – February 15 vs. Georgia Tech No. 7 JoAnne Graf Field 10–2 (5) Driesenga (3–0) Biggerstaff (0–1) — — 8–1 – February 20 vs. Lipscomb No. 5 Rhoads Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL 7–1 Wagner (3–1) Sanders (3–3) — 181 9–1 – February 20 at No. 3 Alabama No. 5 Rhoads Stadium 8–2 Betsa (4–0) Jury (3–2) — 2,514 10–1 – February 21 vs. Lipscomb No. 5 Rhoads Stadium 13–1 (5) Driesenga (4–0) Young (2–4) — 207 11–1 – February 21 at No. 3 Alabama No. 5 Rhoads Stadium 4–1 Wagner (4–1) Osorio (4–1) — 2,710 12–1 – February 22 vs. James Madison No. 5 Rhoads Stadium 10–0 (5) Betsa (5–0) Ford (2–2) — 101 13–1 – February 27 vs. Toledo No. 3 Farrington Stadium Tempe, AZ 20–5 (5) Wagner (5–1) Gooding (4–2) — 289 14–1 – February 27 at No. 21 Arizona State No. 3 Farrington Stadium 7–5 Betsa (6–0) Ryndak (6–2) Wagner (2) 1,167 15–1 – February 28 vs. Toledo No. 3 Farrington Stadium 9–0 (5) Betsa (7–0) Gross (0–1) — 207 16–1 – February 28 vs. Binghamton No. 3 Farrington Stadium 15–0 (5) Wagner (6–1) Miller (2–2) — 209 17–1 –
March (14–4) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record B1G Record March 1 at No. 21 Arizona State No. 3 Farrington Stadium 6–2 Betsa (8–0) Macha (7–4) Wagner (3) 1,115 18–1 – March 4 at Cal State Fullerton No. 3 Anderson Family Field Fullerton, CA 9–0 Wagner (7–1) Ybarra (5–5) — 945 19–1 – March 5 vs. No. 22 Arizona State No. 3 Anderson Family Field 0–2 (8) Macha (8–4) Betsa (8–1) — 345 19–2 – March 5 vs. No. 1 Florida No. 3 Anderson Family Field 4–7 Ocasio (8–0) Betsa (8–2) — 375 19–3 – March 6 vs. San Jose State No. 3 Anderson Family Field 9–1 (5) Betsa (9–1) Lang (4–4) — 1,042 20–3 – March 6 vs. No. 9 Baylor No. 3 Anderson Family Field 11–1 (5) Wagner (8–1) Stearns (4–3) — 511 21–3 – March 7 vs. San Diego State No. 3 Anderson Family Field 10–2 (5) Wagner (9–1) Cable (2–3) — 1,850 22–3 – March 14 Kent State No. 3 Alumni Field Ann Arbor, MI 0–3 Johnson (6–2) Wagner (9–2) — — 22–4 – March 14 Kent State No. 3 Alumni Field 10–1 (5) Betsa (10–2) Ladines (3–3) — 1,051 23–4 – March 15 Kent State No. 3 Alumni Field 4–1 Betsa (11–2) Johnson (6–3) — 1,021 24–4 – March 18 Bowling Green No. 4 Alumni Field 8–1 Wagner (10–2) Combs (1–3) — 712 25–4 – March 20 at Ohio State No. 4 Buckeye Field Columbus, OH 13–1 Betsa (12–2) O'Reilly (7–2) — 215 26–4 1–0 March 21 at Ohio State No. 4 Buckeye Field 13–1 (5) Wagner (11–2) DiDomenico (2–3) — 412 27–4 2–0 March 22 at Ohio State No. 4 Buckeye Field 20–0 (5) Betsa (13–2) O'Reilly (7–3) — 388 28–4 3–0 March 25 Western Michigan No. 4 Alumni Field 8–2 Wagner (12–2) Binkowski (3–6) — 659 29–4 – March 27 Iowa No. 4 Postponed March 28 Iowa No. 4 Alumni Field 6–0 Betsa (14–2) Starkenburg (8–15) — — 30–4 4–0 March 28 Iowa No. 4 Alumni Field 7–4 Wagner (13–2) Yoways (2–10) Betsa (2) 1,136 31–4 5–0 March 29 Iowa No. 4 Alumni Field 4–6 Starkenburg (9–15) Betsa (14–3) — 967 31–5 5–1
April (14–1) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record B1G Record April 3 at No. 14 Minnesota No. 4 JSC Stadium Minneapolis, MN 1–9 (6) Groenewegen (19–3) Betsa (14–4) — 401 31–6 5–2 April 4 at No. 14 Minnesota No. 4 JSC Stadium 9–4 Wagner (14–2) Anderson (5–2) Betsa (3) 1,119 32–6 6–2 April 5 at No. 14 Minnesota No. 4 JSC Stadium 9–1 (6) Betsa (15–4) Groenewegen (19–4) — 327 33–6 7–2 April 7 Eastern Michigan No. 4 Alumni Field 11–1 (5) Wagner (15–2) Rich (6–14) — 952 34–6 – April 10 at Rutgers No. 4 Rutgers Softball Complex Piscataway, NJ 18–0 (5) Betsa (16–4) Landrith (11–6) — 157 35–6 8–2 April 11 at Rutgers No. 4 Rutgers Softball Complex 16–3 (5) Wagner (16–2) Maddox (5–4) — 361 36–6 9–2 April 12 at Rutgers No. 4 Rutgers Softball Complex 5–0 Betsa (17–4) Landrith (11–7) — 227 37–6 10–2 April 15 at Michigan State No. 4 Secchia Stadium East Lansing, MI 10–0 (5) Betsa (18–4) Rainey (1–9) — 1,047 38–6 11–2 April 17 Indiana No. 4 Alumni Field 11–2 (5) Betsa (19–4) Olson (10–21) — 1,415 39–6 12–2 April 18 Indiana No. 4 Alumni Field 3–0 Wagner (17–2) Olson (10–22) — — 40–6 13–2 April 18 Indiana No. 4 Alumni Field 7–1 Betsa (20–4) Tamayo (4–8) — 1,909 41–6 14–2 April 19 Indiana No. 4 Alumni Field Postponed April 21 Michigan State No. 4 Alumni Field 4–3 Wagner (18–2) Rainey (1–11) — 1,105 42–6 15–2 April 22 Central Michigan No. 4 Alumni Field Postponed April 24 at Maryland No. 4 Maryland Softball Stadium College Park, MD 8–0 (5) Betsa (21–4) Dewey (6–11) — 512 43–6 16–2 April 25 at Maryland No. 4 Maryland Softball Stadium 10–2 (6) Wagner (19–2) Schmeiser (18–8) — 941 44–6 17–2 April 26 at Maryland No. 4 Maryland Softball Stadium 1–0 Betsa (22–4) Schmeiser (18–9) — 625 45–6 18–2
May (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record B1G Record May 1 Penn State No. 3 Alumni Field 8–0 (5) Betsa (23–4) Cummings (7–8) — 1,735 46–6 19–2 May 2 Penn State No. 3 Alumni Field 9–1 (6) Wagner (20–2) Laubach (12–10) — 1,852 47–6 20–2 May 3 Penn State No. 3 Alumni Field 10–2 (5) Betsa (24–4) Cummings (7–9) — 2,500 48–6 21–2
Postseason (12–2)
B1G Tournament (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record B1GT Record May 8 Penn State (9) No. 3 (1) Buckeye Field 16–1 (5) Betsa (25–4) Cummings (7–10) — 1,345 49–6 1–0 May 9 Northwestern (4) No. 3 (1) Buckeye Field 9–0 (5) Betsa (26–4) Wood (16–10) — — 50–6 2–0 May 9 Nebraska (3) No. 3 (1) Buckeye Field 6–1 Wagner (21–2) McClure (9–3) — 1,476 51–6 3–0
Ann Arbor Regional (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Regional Record May 15 Oakland No. 3 (3) Alumni Field 9–1 (6) Betsa (27–4) Kownacki (16–13) — 2,087 52–6 1–0 May 16 No. 19 California No. 3 (3) Alumni Field 9–1 (6) Betsa (28–4) Trzcinski (15–6) — 2,237 53–6 2–0 May 17 Pittsburgh No. 3 (3) Alumni Field 10–3 Betsa (29–4) King (20–9) — 2,144 54–6 3–0
Ann Arbor Super Regional (2–0) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Super Reg. Record May 21 No. 14 Georgia (14) No. 3 (3) Alumni Field 10–3 Betsa (30–4) Wilkinson (28–10) — 2,136 55–6 1–0 May 22 No. 14 Georgia (14) No. 3 (3) Alumni Field 7–6 Wagner (22–2) Wilkinson (28–11) Betsa (4) 2,582 56–6 2–0
Women's College World Series (4–2) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record CWS Record May 28 vs. No. 6 Alabama (6) No. 3 (3) ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Oklahoma City, OK 5–0 Betsa (31–4) Osorio (21–9) — 8,360 57–6 1–0 May 29 vs. No. 7 UCLA (7) No. 3 (3) ASA Hall of Fame Stadium 10–4 Wagner (23–2) Carda (32–7) — 9,425 58–6 2–0 May 31 vs. No. 8 LSU (5) No. 3 (3) ASA Hall of Fame Stadium 6–3 Wagner (24–2) Hoover (18–7) — 9,274 59–6 3–0 June 1 vs. No. 2 Florida (1) No. 3 (3) ASA Hall of Fame Stadium 2–3 Ocasio (18–3) Betsa (31–5) Gourley (5) 8,329 59–7 3–1 June 1 vs. No. 2 Florida (1) No. 3 (3) ASA Hall of Fame Stadium 1–0 Wagner (25–2) Haeger (31–2) — 8,254 60–7 4–1 June 1 vs. No. 2 Florida (1) No. 3 (3) ASA Hall of Fame Stadium 1–4 Haeger (32–2) Wagner (25–3) — 7,680 60–8 4–2
Win   Loss   Postponement Bold: Wolverines team member Reference:[7] Rankings from NFCA:[8] (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Ranking movement

Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.

Poll	Last	Pre	Wk 1	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Wk 10	Wk 11	Wk 12	Wk 13	Wk 14	Wk 15	Final
NFCA[8]	10	8	8	5	3	3	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	2

Awards and honors

Weekly Awards Player Award Date Awarded Ref. Kelsey Susalla Co-Big Ten Player of the Week February 23, 2015 [9] Sierra Lawrence USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week March 3, 2015 [10] Sierra Romero Big Ten Pitcher of the Week March 9, 2005 [11] Megan Betsa Big Ten Pitcher of the Week March 23, 2015 [12] Megan Betsa Big Ten Pitcher of the Week April 20, 2015 [13] Megan Betsa NFCA National Pitcher of the Week April 21, 2015 [14] Individual Awards Player Award Ref. Megan Betsa Big Ten Pitcher of the Year [15] Carol Hutchins Big Ten Coach of the Year

All-Big Ten Player Selection Ref. Megan Betsa First Team [16] Kelly Christner First Team Sierra Romero First Team Haylie Wagner First Team Sierra Lawrence Second Team Abby Ramirez Second Team Lauren Sweet Second Team All-American Player Selection Ref. Kelly Christner First Team [17] Sierra Romero First Team Megan Betsa Second Team Sierra Lawrence Third Team Haylie Wagner Third Team

References

1. "Big Ten Softball Standings". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
2. "Wolverines Ranked No. 8 in First Coaches Poll of 2015". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
3. "U-M Receives Second Top-10 Preseason Ranking of 2015". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. January 27, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
4. "Player of the Year Watch List Includes Lawrence, Romero, Wagner". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. January 30, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
5. "2015 Michigan Softball Roster". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
6. "Michigan Coaching Staff Tabbed Nation's Best by NFCA". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. July 6, 2005. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
7. "2015 Softball Schedule". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
8. "USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll (Final)". nfca.org. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
9. "Susalla Tabbed Co-Big Ten Player of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
10. "Lawrence Selected as USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 3, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
11. "Romero Named Big Ten Player of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 9, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
12. "Betsa Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 23, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
13. "Betsa Repeats as Big Ten Pitcher of the Week". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. April 20, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
14. Swan, Lance (April 21, 2015). "Missouri's Fagan, Michigan's Betsa Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player and Pitcher of the Week". nfca.org. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
15. "Softball Award Winners Named". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. May 6, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
16. "U-M Puts Four on All-Big Ten First Team; Betsa, Hutchins Snag Top Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. May 6, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
17. "Seven Named NFCA All-Americans". bigten.org. May 27, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2020.