2015 Michigan Wolverines softball team explained

Year:	2015
Team:	Michigan Wolverines
Conference:	Big Ten Conference
Shortconference:	B1G
Record:	60–8
Confrecord:	21–2
Headcoach:	Carol Hutchins (31st season)
Assistantcoach:	Jennifer Brundage (18th season)
Champion:	Women's College World Series Runner-up
Stadiumarena:	Alumni Field
Confchamp:	Big Ten Regular Season Champions Big Ten Tournament Champions

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.

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.^[1] ^[2] Sierra Lawrence, Sierra Romero and Haylie Wagner were all named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year preseason watch list.^[3]

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:^[4]

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:^[5]

Schedule

! style="" | Regular Season (48–6)|- valign="top" |- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| 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 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 7 || vs. USF || No. 8 || USF Softball Stadium || 4–3 || || Greiner (1–1) || — || 1,100 || 1–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 8 || vs. Hampton || No. 8 || USF Softball Stadium || 9–2 || Betsa (1–0) || Babinsack (0–3) || || 204 || 2–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 8 || vs. Illinois State || No. 8 || USF Softball Stadium || 4–1 || Driesenga (2–0) || Romshek (2–2) || — || 217 || 3–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| || || No. 7 || JoAnne Graf Field
Tallahassee, FL || || Wagner (1–1) || Kramer (3–1) || — || — || 4–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 13 || vs. Georgia Tech || No. 7 || JoAnne Graf Field || || Betsa (2–0) || || — || — || 5–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 14 || at No. 6 Florida State || No. 7 || JoAnne Graf Field || 6–5 || Wagner (2–1) || Waldrop (4–1) || Betsa (1) || — || 6–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 14 || at No. 6 Florida State || No. 7 || JoAnne Graf Field || 2–1 || Betsa (3–0) || Waldrop (4–2) || — || 1,208 || 7–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 15 || vs. Georgia Tech || No. 7 || JoAnne Graf Field || || Driesenga (3–0) || Biggerstaff (0–1) || — || — || 8–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 20 || vs. Lipscomb || No. 5 || Rhoads Stadium
Tuscaloosa, AL || 7–1 || Wagner (3–1) || Sanders (3–3) || — || 181 || 9–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 20 || at No. 3 Alabama || No. 5 || Rhoads Stadium || 8–2 || Betsa (4–0) || Jury (3–2) || — || 2,514 || 10–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 21 || vs. Lipscomb || No. 5 || Rhoads Stadium || || Driesenga (4–0) || Young (2–4) || — || 207 || 11–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 21 || at No. 3 Alabama || No. 5 || Rhoads Stadium || 4–1 || Wagner (4–1) || Osorio (4–1) || — || 2,710 || 12–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 22 || vs. James Madison || No. 5 || Rhoads Stadium || || Betsa (5–0) || Ford (2–2) || — || 101 || 13–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 27 || vs. Toledo || No. 3 ||
Tempe, AZ || || Wagner (5–1) || Gooding (4–2) || — || 289 || 14–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 27 || || No. 3 || Farrington Stadium || 7–5 || Betsa (6–0) || Ryndak (6–2) || Wagner (2) || 1,167 || 15–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 28 || vs. Toledo || No. 3 || Farrington Stadium || || Betsa (7–0) || Gross (0–1) || — || 207 || 16–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| February 28 || vs. Binghamton || No. 3 || Farrington Stadium || 15–0 ⁽⁵⁾ || Wagner (6–1) || Miller (2–2) || — || 209 || 17–1 || –|-|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 1 || || No. 3 || Farrington Stadium || 6–2 || Betsa (8–0) || Macha (7–4) || || 1,115 || 18–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 4 || at Cal State Fullerton || No. 3 || Anderson Family Field
Fullerton, CA || 9–0 || Wagner (7–1) || Ybarra (5–5) || — || 945 || 19–1 || –|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| March 5 || || No. 3 || Anderson Family Field || 0–2 ⁽⁸⁾ || Macha (8–4) || Betsa (8–1) || — || 345 || 19–2 || –|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| March 5 || vs. No. 1 Florida || No. 3 || Anderson Family Field || 4–7 || Ocasio (8–0) || Betsa (8–2) || — || 375 || 19–3 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 6 || vs. San Jose State || No. 3 || Anderson Family Field || || Betsa (9–1) || Lang (4–4) || — || 1,042 || 20–3 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 6 || vs. No. 9 Baylor || No. 3 || Anderson Family Field || || Wagner (8–1) || Stearns (4–3) || — || 511 || 21–3 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 7 || vs. San Diego State || No. 3 || Anderson Family Field || 10–2 ⁽⁵⁾ || Wagner (9–1) || Cable (2–3) || — || 1,850 || 22–3 || –|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| || Kent State || No. 3 || Alumni Field
Ann Arbor, MI || 0–3 || Johnson (6–2) || Wagner (9–2) || — || — || 22–4 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 14 || Kent State || No. 3 || Alumni Field || || Betsa (10–2) || Ladines (3–3) || — || 1,051 || 23–4 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 15 || Kent State || No. 3 || Alumni Field || 4–1 || Betsa (11–2) || Johnson (6–3) || — || 1,021 || 24–4 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 18 || Bowling Green || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 8–1 || Wagner (10–2) || Combs (1–3) || — || 712 || 25–4 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 21 || at Ohio State || No. 4 || Buckeye Field || || Wagner (11–2) || || — || 412 || 27–4 || 2–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 22 || at Ohio State || No. 4 || Buckeye Field || || Betsa (13–2) || O'Reilly (7–3) || — || 388 || 28–4 || 3–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 25 || Western Michigan || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 8–2 || Wagner (12–2) || Binkowski (3–6) || — || 659 || 29–4 || –|- bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| March 27 || Iowa || No. 4 || colspan=9| Postponed|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 28 || Iowa || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 6–0 || Betsa (14–2) || || — || — || 30–4 || 4–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| March 28 || Iowa || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 7–4 || Wagner (13–2) || Yoways (2–10) || Betsa (2) || 1,136 || 31–4 || 5–0|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| March 29 || Iowa || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 4–6 || || Betsa (14–3) || — || 967 || 31–5 || 5–1|-|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| April 3 || || No. 4 || JSC Stadium
Minneapolis, MN || || || Betsa (14–4) || — || 401 || 31–6 || 5–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 4 || at No. 14 Minnesota || No. 4 || JSC Stadium || 9–4 || Wagner (14–2) || Anderson (5–2) || || 1,119 || 32–6 || 6–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 5 || at No. 14 Minnesota || No. 4 || JSC Stadium || || Betsa (15–4) || || — || 327 || 33–6 || 7–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 7 || Eastern Michigan || No. 4 || Alumni Field || || Wagner (15–2) || Rich (6–14) || — || 952 || 34–6 || –|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| || at Rutgers || No. 4 || Rutgers Softball Complex
Piscataway, NJ || || Betsa (16–4) || Landrith (11–6) || — || 157 || 35–6 || 8–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 11 || at Rutgers || No. 4 || Rutgers Softball Complex || || Wagner (16–2) || Maddox (5–4) || — || 361 || 36–6 || 9–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 12 || at Rutgers || No. 4 || Rutgers Softball Complex || 5–0 || Betsa (17–4) || Landrith (11–7) || — || 227 || 37–6 || 10–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 15 || at Michigan State || No. 4 || Secchia Stadium
East Lansing, MI || || Betsa (18–4) || Rainey (1–9) || — || 1,047 || 38–6 || 11–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 17 || Indiana || No. 4 || Alumni Field || || Betsa (19–4) || Olson (10–21) || — || 1,415 || 39–6 || 12–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 18 || Indiana || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 3–0 || Wagner (17–2) || Olson (10–22) || — || — || 40–6 || 13–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 18 || Indiana || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 7–1 || Betsa (20–4) || Tamayo (4–8) || — || 1,909 || 41–6 || 14–2|- bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| April 19 || Indiana || No. 4 || Alumni Field || colspan=9| Postponed|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 21 || Michigan State || No. 4 || Alumni Field || 4–3 || Wagner (18–2) || Rainey (1–11) || — || 1,105 || 42–6 || 15–2|- bgcolor="#bbbbbb"| April 22 || Central Michigan || No. 4 || Alumni Field || colspan=9| Postponed|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 24 || at Maryland || No. 4 || Maryland Softball Stadium
College Park, MD || || Betsa (21–4) || Dewey (6–11) || — || 512 || 43–6 || 16–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 25 || at Maryland || No. 4 || Maryland Softball Stadium || || Wagner (19–2) || Schmeiser (18–8) || — || 941 || 44–6 || 17–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| April 26 || at Maryland || No. 4 || Maryland Softball Stadium || 1–0 || Betsa (22–4) || Schmeiser (18–9) || — || 625 || 45–6 || 18–2|-|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 1 || Penn State || No. 3 || Alumni Field || || Betsa (23–4) || Cummings (7–8) || — || 1,735 || 46–6 || 19–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 2 || Penn State || No. 3 || Alumni Field || || Wagner (20–2) || Laubach (12–10) || — || 1,852 || 47–6 || 20–2|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 3 || Penn State || No. 3 || Alumni Field || || Betsa (24–4) || Cummings (7–9) || — || 2,500 || 48–6 || 21–2|-|-! style="" | Postseason (12–2)|-|-|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 8 || Penn State (9) || No. 3 (1) || Buckeye Field || || Betsa (25–4) || Cummings (7–10) || — || 1,345 || 49–6 || 1–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 9 || Northwestern (4) || No. 3 (1) || Buckeye Field || || Betsa (26–4) || Wood (16–10) || — || — || 50–6 || 2–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 9 || Nebraska (3) || No. 3 (1) || Buckeye Field || 6–1 || Wagner (21–2) || McClure (9–3) || — || 1,476 || 51–6 || 3–0|-|-|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 15 || Oakland || No. 3 (3) || Alumni Field || || Betsa (27–4) || Kownacki (16–13) || — || 2,087 || 52–6 || 1–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 16 || No. 19 California || No. 3 (3) || Alumni Field || || Betsa (28–4) || Trzcinski (15–6) || — || 2,237 || 53–6 || 2–0|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| May 17 || Pittsburgh || No. 3 (3) || Alumni Field || 10–3 || Betsa (29–4) || King (20–9) || — || 2,144 || 54–6 || 3–0|-|-|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|-|-|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ddffdd"| 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|- bgcolor="#ffdddd"| 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|-|- |- style="text-align:center;"|

Awards and honors

Weekly Awards
Player	Award	Date Awarded	Ref.
Kelsey Susalla	Co-Big Ten Player of the Week	February 23, 2015	^[7]
Sierra Lawrence	USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week	March 3, 2015	^[8]
Sierra Romero	Big Ten Pitcher of the Week	March 9, 2005	^[9]
Megan Betsa	Big Ten Pitcher of the Week	March 23, 2015	^[10]
Megan Betsa	Big Ten Pitcher of the Week	April 20, 2015	^[11]
Megan Betsa	NFCA National Pitcher of the Week	April 21, 2015	^[12]

Individual Awards
Player	Award	Ref.
Megan Betsa	Big Ten Pitcher of the Year	^[13]
Carol Hutchins	Big Ten Coach of the Year	^[13]

All-Big Ten
Player	Selection	Ref.
Megan Betsa	First Team	^[14]
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	^[15]
Sierra Romero	First Team
Megan Betsa	Second Team
Sierra Lawrence	Third Team
Haylie Wagner	Third Team

Notes and References

Web site: Wolverines Ranked No. 8 in First Coaches Poll of 2015 . . MGoBlue.com . January 20, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: U-M Receives Second Top-10 Preseason Ranking of 2015 . . MGoBlue.com . January 27, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Player of the Year Watch List Includes Lawrence, Romero, Wagner . . MGoBlue.com . January 30, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: 2015 Michigan Softball Roster . . MGoBlue.com. May 14, 2019.
Web site: Michigan Coaching Staff Tabbed Nation's Best by NFCA . . MGoBlue.com . July 6, 2005 . June 12, 2018.
Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll (Final) . nfca.org . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Susalla Tabbed Co-Big Ten Player of the Week . . MGoBlue.com . February 23, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Lawrence Selected as USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week . . MGoBlue.com . March 3, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Romero Named Big Ten Player of the Week . . MGoBlue.com . March 9, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Betsa Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week . . MGoBlue.com . March 23, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Betsa Repeats as Big Ten Pitcher of the Week . . MGoBlue.com . April 20, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Missouri’s Fagan, Michigan’s Betsa Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player and Pitcher of the Week . nfca.org . Lance . Swan . April 21, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Softball Award Winners Named . https://web.archive.org/web/20210521085650/https://bigten.org/news/2015/5/6/Softball_Award_Winners_Named.aspx . dead . May 21, 2021 . . BigTen.org . May 6, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: U-M Puts Four on All-Big Ten First Team; Betsa, Hutchins Snag Top Honors . . MGoBlue.com . May 6, 2015 . February 8, 2020.
Web site: Seven Named NFCA All-Americans . . May 27, 2015 . February 8, 2020.