Henry Throws Gem to Beat Delaware in Weekend Opener

Friday, March 30

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

14-11

Delaware

13-10

Delaware

Michigan

3/30/2018 8:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» The win marks Michigan's 10th straight and ninth straight at home.
» Starter Tommy Henry improved to 4-0 on the season with a career-high eight innings pitched.
» Michigan totaled just four hits in the win, including two by Blake Nelson.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 6, Delaware 2
Records: U-M (14-11), DEL (13-10)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 31 -- DH vs. Delaware (Wilpon Complex), 11 a.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A career-high eight innings of work by sophomore starter Tommy Henry and an RBI from five different Wolverines gave Michigan the fuel needed to clinch a 6-2 win over Delaware on Friday afternoon (March 30) in the first game of the weekend at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Henry tossed a gem in the effort, surrendering just one earned run. The lefty allowed just six hits and struck out five.

Delaware took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a solo homer, but the Wolverines responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs. Junior Blake Nelson led off the inning with a base hit through the left side, and a catcher's interference call allowed redshirt junior Miles Lewis to reach first base. Freshman Jordan Nwogu followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, which pushed Lewis to second and allowed Nelson to score and tie the game at 1. An RBI single from senior Brock Keener then scored Lewis, and a run-scoring single from freshman Jack Blomgren followed and scored Keener for a 3-1 Michigan lead.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Michigan added three more runs to go ahead, 6-1. Keener, Blomgren and Thomas got the frame started with consecutive walks, which forced the Blue Hens to make a call to the bullpen. Sophomore Christan Bullock followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Keener and advanced both Blomgren and Thomas to scoring position. Blomgren then beat the throw home on a passed ball, and Thomas raced home for a 6-1 lead on a sacrifice fly by junior Jonathan Engelmann.

After seven strong innings on the mound, Henry came out for the top of the eighth to set a new career-high for innings pitched. After a one-out single put a man on base, a stolen base and a throwing error gave Delaware its third runner in scoring position for the game. An infield single then scored one run, cutting Michigan's lead to four.

Junior lefty William Tribucher came out to pitch the top of the ninth for the Wolverines and threw just four pitches to retire the side and clinch Michigan's 6-2 victory.

The Maize and Blue totaled just four hits, but took advantage of four walks and one hit batter. Nelson led Michigan with two hits on the day, while Bullock, Engelmann, Nwogu, Keener and Blomgren each drove in a run.

Tweet of the Game

B5 | Another sac fly scores Thomas and Michigan takes a 6-1 lead! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/LYhXyBGZt0
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 30, 2018

Michigan and Delaware will continue the weekend series on Saturday (March 31) with a doubleheader, weather permitting. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]