Michigan Blanks Michigan State for Series Sweep

Sunday, March 25

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

12-11, 0

Michigan State

6-16, 0

Michigan State

Michigan

3/25/2018 7:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Michigan is now 3-0 in Big Ten play and has won its last eight games overall.
» Michigan State put runners on in all but two innings, but four Wolverine pitchers and a solid Michigan defense combined to hold the Spartans scoreless.
» Jack Blomgren blasted his first career homer with a bomb over the left-field wall in the fourth inning.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 11, Michigan State 0
Records: U-M (12-11, 3-0 B1G), MSU (6-16, 0-3 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, March 28 -- vs. Central Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team used five scoring innings and lights-out pitching to defeat Michigan State, 11-0, on Sunday (March 25) and complete the series sweep at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Backed by a season-high 15 hits, Michigan improved to 3-0 in Big Ten play with its eighth consecutive win. The series sweep also marks the Wolverines' second straight.

Michigan wasted little time getting on the board and plated two runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Christan Bullock got the momentum going with a one-out base hit, then stole second and third base before a single by junior Jonathan Engelmann gave Michigan a lead that was never threatened. With Engelmann on base, a double off the bat of redshirt-junior Miles Lewis allowed Engelmann to score from first and put the Maize and Blue up, 2-0.

Neither team scored in the second, but Michigan extended its lead to four in the third inning on a run-scoring double from freshman Jesse Franklin and an RBI groundout from freshman Jordan Nwogu.

The Wolverines added two runs in the fourth on a solo home run by freshman Jack Blomgren and an RBI double from junior Blake Nelson to take a 6-0 lead. The homer is the first of Blomgren's career.

Following a scoreless fifth, Michigan tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead, 10-0. Michigan State went to the bullpen to start the frame, and junior Ako Thomas took first base on a leadoff walk before he stole second and advanced to third on an MSU throwing error. One out later, Engelmann ripped an RBI single down the left-field line that ricocheted off the third base umpire and allowed Thomas to score easily. Engelmann then swiped second for his sixth stolen base of the season, and Nelson poked a base hit up the middle to give Michigan runners in scoring position. A double to deep right field off the bat of Lewis followed to score Engelmann, and a fielder's choice scored Nelson for a nine-run lead. Nwogu kept the rally going with a sacrifice fly to score Lewis and put Michigan up by 10 runs.

The Wolverines added a run in the seventh on a run batted in from Engelmann that scored Blomgren, and held the Spartans scoreless through the remainder of the game to execute the series sweep.

Michigan's pitchers were lights-out and combined for seven strikeouts in the shutout of the Spartans. Sophomore Karl Kauffmann earned the win as he allowed just six hits, struck out five and walked to in six innings of work.

Junior Troy Miller, senior Jayce Vancena and freshman Jeff Criswell combined to close out the game with one inning of relief apiece. The trio surrendered just three hits and one walk.

Michigan State put runners on base in all but two innings, but left 13 on base as Michigan's pitchers and defense put nine zeroes on the scoreboard.

Tweet of the Game

#Michigan takes down Msu 11-0 for the series sweep#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/7drLrCjXX9
— Andy Shippy (@Andysaidgoblue) March 25, 2018

Michigan will return to play on Wednesday (March 28) for a non-conference midweek contest against Central Michigan. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]