Sara Driesenga toed the circle, glaring in at sophomore catcher Lauren Sweet, the tying run on second with the sold-out crowd on its feet. One fastball later, it was over, and the right-handed pitcher was all smiles as her teammates mobbed her near the dugout.

It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t easy, but the Michigan softball team clinched its sixth-straight Big Ten title by beating Northwestern, 2-1, on Friday night. The 10th-ranked Wolverines (18-2 Big Ten, 42-9 overall) also became the first program in the country to win six conference championships in a row.

After relying on its prolific offense all season long, it was Michigan’s pitching and fielding that made big plays in key situations against the Wildcats to clinch the win.

Driesenga got the nod in the circle, and the sophomore made quick work of Northwestern from start to finish. The Wolverines’ defensive performance was highlighted by freshman shortstop Sierra Romero’s deft scoop and bullet to first base in the second inning and a double play in the sixth that helped preserve the close win. But it was Driesenga’s eighth strikeout that slammed the door on the Wildcats.

“It’s really exciting for all of us,” Driesenga said. “We all can bring it in, and we’re all so excited, and we just cheer all together.”

Driesenga took a no-hitter and a one-run lead into the fourth inning, but both were broken up when shortstop Anna Edwards singled into left field and designated player Andrea DiPrima’s softly-driven single scored Northwestern’s first run of the game a pitch later. But it was also the Wildcats’ only run of the game and the only two hits Driesenga allowed all evening, a feat Northwestern pitcher Amy Letourneau couldn’t match.

Michigan’s offense took care of the rest. In the third inning, Romero’s line drive into left field scored senior designated player Jaclyn Crummey from second, and the Wolverines broke the 1-1 tie in the fifth when junior right fielder Nicole Sappingfield drove a 2-2 pitch into center field. The game-winning rally started with a leadoff double by Driesenga,

“I just love doing all that I can to help us win as a team,” she said.

The Wolverines high-fived and hugged fans as they exited Alumni Field, celebrating their 19th title in 29 years under Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. But she was quick to calm down her team, reminding them of the challenges to come.

“I told them, ‘Don’t be satisfied,’ ” Hutchins said. “People who get high, fall. We are not done with this series. We still have to get better, and we still have to come play.”