As a brisk wind blew into right field, fans and coaches huddled under multiple layers of clothing when the No. 14 Michigan softball team hosted Bowling Green on Wednesday afternoon. But junior left fielder Nicole Sappingfield sparked an offense that was red hot, and the Wolverines buried the Falcons, 9-1.

Last season, Sappingfield was instrumental in the Wolverines’ 12-2 victory over the Falcons, driving in five runs on two hits. On Wednesday, she again impressed at the plate, leading rallies in the first two innings to stretch Michigan’s lead to eight. The Wolverines (3-0 Big Ten, 25-7 overall) have won seven consecutive games, the longest streak of the young season.

“We just like to play hard,” Sappingfield said. “It’s always nice to be on the field — it’s better than practice.”

The Wolverines wasted no time breaking the game open, sandwiching a pair of hits — the first by Sappingfield — between walks to bring home a quick run in the opening frame. After a patient at-bat that forced Falcons pitcher Paris Imholz to throw strikes, freshman designated hitter Sierra Lawrence laced a shot into center field. First baseman Kelsey Susalla followed with a pop fly that dropped into right field, and senior right fielder Jaclyn Crummey added a blooper that squibbed out of the infield, extending Michigan’s lead to six.

Sappingfield’s sharp single to left field in the second inning led to a two-run frame that pushed the lead to eight. The teams exchanged scores in the fourth inning before the game was decided by mercy rule.

Michigan has dominated the all-time series against Bowling Green, 30-5, and has won nine consecutive games against the Falcons.

Sophomore pitcher Haylie Wagner struggled in the opening frame, hitting shortstop Hannah Fulk in the helmet with a fastball on the first pitch of the game. But after another runner reached on a dropped third strike, the 2012 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year induced a groundout to escape the inning. Though she was disappointed by the early miscues, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins explained that the weekday games help the Wolverines improve for weekend series.

“Our goal is to keep sharp,” Hutchins said. “We’re just trying to get in a groove.”

Wagner did just that, mixing off-speed pitches with a powerful fastball to hold the Falcons to only one hit through three innings of work.

Sophomore Sara Driesenga took over pitching duties in the fourth inning for the Wolverines and was immediately hit in the left arm by a comeback line drive. After a short delay, the right-hander stayed in the circle for the last two innings — allowing a run on two hits — but ended the game with her third strikeout. Hutchins said she’s “hopeful” that Driesenga will pitch this weekend.

A strong wind was blowing out to right field throughout the contest, making routine pop-ups difficult for the outfielders. The breeze might have helped Michigan in the first inning when Bowling Green center fielder misread a Lawrence line drive. The Wolverines added 10 hits to the error and put a runner on base on all but one inning, decisively halting Bowling Green’s four-game win streak.

“I thought we did a good job of playing the game and not playing the opponent,” Hutchins said. “We got on a bit of an offensive groove over the weekend and we want to keep it.”