FSU Saved by the Bell against Softball [Update: ASU not so lucky!]
For the 2nd time in 2017, the softball team took a #1 ranked team from the Sunshine State to extra innings. This time, the opponents were the Seminoles of Florida State, as a see-saw game couldn't be settled in regulation. Megan Betsa had some difficulties against a powerful FSU line-up, but got big outs when she needed them to keep the team in the game.
Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, we got to see some very encouraging signs as 8 different players got hits, and Tera Blanco, who has been slumping in the early going, smacked a pair, including a 2-RBI ball to the fence to give Michigan short-lived 5-4 lead in the B6.
FSU tied the game at 5 in the 7th, and the Wolverines couldn't get anything going in their half of the inning, so the game went to extras. Even the international tie-break rule (runner placed at 2nd to start the inning) wasn't enough to get FSU on the board in their half of the inning, as Betsa weed-wacked their hitters, slinging 3 Ks. Michigan never got their turn, however, as the strict time requirements forced the game to end early.
This has to feel like a brutal missed opportunity, as well as highway-robbery, for the team to come so close, and end up not even getting the same opportunities that the 'Noles got. Even so, we saw some great signs here, and if any tie can boost the resume, it would certainly be this one.
Game 2 of the day is underway, with the Wolverines up 1-0 on ASU in the B1.
UPDATE: Softball downs ASU 3-0, finally tallying a W over a ranked opponent. Blanco looked better than she has all season, blanking the Sun Devils for 6 innings before Betsa stepped in to strike out the side 1-2-3 in the B7. Great way to end the weekend!
February 26th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:10 PM ^
Yeah, these early-season tournaments operate under some strict time constraints, and I get that, but the logic that lets FSU bat and not us is beyond me. Either both teams get a chance or neither does - especially since the inning went 1-2-3 with 3 Ks, so it's not like it could've gone a ton faster. They should've known before it started that there wouldn't be time.
And yes, I can imagine South Bend would be very different from Florida. Never been to FL myself, but of places that I've been, South Bend is one of the most different from my mental image of it. What brings you there?
February 26th, 2017 at 9:14 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:25 PM ^
Awesome, congratulations. I had a very similar feeling when I went there for my MA (almost 10 years ago now, yeesh). I never thought I'd be there, and was a bit resistant to even applying, but I fell in love with the people & community there pretty quickly. Of course the "Beat ND" button on my backpack meant that everyone knew where I stood. :)
February 27th, 2017 at 6:38 AM ^
February 27th, 2017 at 7:31 AM ^
The time limit actually favors the visiting team as they are more likely to complete their half inning. Normally, having the hammer is what you want.
February 26th, 2017 at 9:02 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:08 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:11 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:13 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^
Not sure what exactly would've happened in that event. The team twitter account called it a "drop dead" travel requirement, so I think the game was destined to end at that point no matter what. Not sure if FSU would've been credited w/ a W or if they would've reverted to the score before the unbalanced inning. If FSU had gotten a W in that way, I think Hutch might've murdered somebody!
February 26th, 2017 at 9:18 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^
+1 informative (seriously)
February 26th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 10:13 PM ^
Those travel restrictions suck. I know they're necessary. The girls have to get back to campus and play school and such but still. Ties in sports are just so...wrong.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
On another note, we just beat #21 Arizona State 3-0. Tera Blanco pitched 6 shutout innings and Megan Betsa came in for the 7th inning and struck out the side for the save.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^
I'm hoping that tie against FSU will prove to be a turning point for this team, kinda like that Minnesota comeback was a few years ago. They've battled tough, but not broken through, and then had a chance at a season-defining W stolen from them. You can get deflated after something like that, or you can get mad. They played with some fire in the night-cap; now we need to see if they can carry it over to next week.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^
Yeah, they're very clearly in a rebuilding year. We've got some young players doing some young player things (a few stuck out tonight in the FSU game), Betsa is struggling a little with her control, hitting with RISP hasn't been the best against good pitchers, etc. But Blanco is gaining some confidence on the mound, the catcher situation seems to be much improved from last year, and some of the new faces in the lineup seem to be stepping up.
Overall, despite the graduating production, there's still plenty of talent on this team, both old and new. Some of it's raw but they seem to be starting to figure out who they are. At least a little. I just hope Blanco's performance from today is a sign of things to come rather than an anomaly. Hutch will pull Blanco for Betsa but as of now, the reverse doesn't seem to be true so she has no change of pace for when Betsa is off. When Hutch feels confident enough to throw Blanco into the circle when Betsa just doesn't have it, that's when we'll know Tera has truly arrived as a pitcher and we should be in good shape the rest of the way.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:41 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
February 26th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
Nice win against ASU. I see they play ASU again on Thursday, followed by UCLA the same evening. Will be interesting to see how the pitchers are handled for these two games.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:07 PM ^
February 27th, 2017 at 12:39 AM ^
February 27th, 2017 at 1:47 AM ^
February 27th, 2017 at 2:54 AM ^
How is it that FSU gets their 8th inning and UM doesnt...Michigan was set to start the inning with a runner at 2nd ..per extra inning tournament rules..we would have had a Excellent chance to win that game...This just isnt right..If FSU had scored then bolted do they win the game? after they failed they bolted..
February 27th, 2017 at 8:36 AM ^
No, FSU couldn't have claimed a win if they had scored & left before the end of the 8th. They would only count complete innings.
The problem was that the tournament managers started an inning that they had pretty much zero chance of finishing. That's why a better rule would be "no inning starts after 4:45 pm" rather than "game stops at 5:00 pm." Most tournaments with hard stops like that have a "no inning starts after..." rule, rather than the way this one worked. I understand that FSU had to catch a flight, but that's no reason not to have a "no inning starts after..." rule in place.
February 27th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
Thanks for the updates. Overall, pretty good day for the team.