Vancena, Freshman Bats Help U-M to Win at MSU

Wednesday, May 9

East Lansing, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

31-14

Michigan State

17-26

Michigan

Michigan State

5/9/2018 7:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Harrison Salter tied his career high with three hits, including his first career homer.
» Jordan Nwogu belted a career-high two homers and ended the day with three RBI.
» Jayce Vancena tossed a career-high 6.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.
» Michigan finished the regular season with a 4-0 record against Michigan State and a 10-1 record against in-state opponents.

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (McLane Stadium)
Score: Michigan 10, Michigan State 2
Records: U-M (31-14), MSU (17-26)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 12 -- vs. Illinois (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A career pitching performance from senior Jayce Vancena and offensive outings from freshman Jordan Nwogu and redshirt freshman Harrison Salter helped push the University of Michigan baseball team to a 10-2 non-conference win at Michigan State on Wednesday (May 9) at McLane Stadium.

Vancena (2-3) took the mound in the bottom of the third and threw a career-high 6.1 innings to earn the win. The senior righty scattered four hits and did not allow a run in the effort.

Salter led the Wolverines at the plate with three hits, including his first career home run, while Nwogu belted two home runs. The pair combined for six RBI.

With a Big Ten Conference series sweep of Michigan State, the midweek victory marks a season sweep of the Spartans. Michigan also finished 10-1 against in-state competition.

Michigan got on the scoreboard first, when Blake Nelson led off the third inning with a double. Nelson came around to score on a single by Slater to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.

Michigan State responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame, but U-M added two runs in the top of the fourth to regain the lead, 3-2. Sophomore Dominic Clementi started off the inning with a base hit up the middle, and junior Jonathan Engelmann followed with a single to left field that resulted in a Spartan error and allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. Freshman Jesse Franklin then roped a hard single to first base, which hit off the glove of Michigan State's Zach McGuire and allowed Nelson to score to tie the score at 2. Engelmann advanced to third on the play, and a sacrifice fly from Nwogu followed to give Michigan a one-run edge.

The Wolverines added a run in the fifth on a solo homer from Salter, which marked the first of his career, and plated two additional runs in the sixth on RBI from Nelson and Salter.

With Vancena continuing to hold the Spartans to just two runs, Michigan extended its lead to 9-2 with three runs in the top of the seventh. An in-the-park home run from Nwogu led off the inning, and freshman Jack Blomgren and junior Ako Thomas drove in two more runs for a seven-run lead.

A solo homer from Nwogu in the top of the eighth pushed Michigan's lead to 10-2, and a quick ninth inning closed out the game.

Tweet of the Game

Uh... Does anyone have a tape measure @jg500087 can borrow? Like a really long one? @umichbaseball leads in-state rival MSU 10-2 pic.twitter.com/ndsnDQBxQI
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) May 9, 2018

Michigan (31-14) will return to the diamond this weekend (May 12-14) to host Illinois for the Wolverines' final Big Ten Conference home series of the 2018 season. First pitch for Friday's game is set for 6 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.