Senior right-hander Megan Betsa and senior outfielder Kelly Christner became the 14th and 15th players in Michigan softball program history to be drafted to the National Pro Fastpitch league Monday night. Betsa was selected by the Akron Racers as the No. 7 overall draft pick, while Christner was drafted 20th overall by the USSSA Pride. Christner follows in the footsteps of past Wolverine stars and Pride draftees Sierra Romero and Jordan Taylor.
Betsa, who has had arguably her strongest season this year, leads the nation with 334 strikeouts — already besting her career-high from her sophomore campaign — and has recorded a 1.30 earned-run average. The Georgia native has a 4.58 strikeout-to-walk ratio, also on track for a career-best mark, and has held opponents to a miniscule .144 batting average. Her 1,123 career strikeouts rank third-highest in Michigan history. Betsa is a two-time NFCA All-American, two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and two-time All-Big Ten first team honoree.
On the other side of the ball, Christner leads the Wolverines’ offense with a .408 batting average, .608 slugging percentage and .526 on-base percentage, and is tied for first on the team with six home runs. The second-year captain also ranks among Michigan’s top three in hits, runs batted in, total bases and runs. In her four years as a Wolverine, Christner has a .360 career batting average with 36 home runs and 152 RBIs. After her sophomore season in 2015, she also earned NFCA All-American honors, and nods to both the All-Big Ten first team and Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins and former Wolverines took to Twitter to send congratulations to Betsa and Christner: