Michigan Wins Big Ten Opener at Michigan State

Friday, March 29

East Lansing, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

18-7, 1-0

Michigan State

4-19, 0-4

Michigan

Michigan State

3/29/2019 4:37:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Tommy Henry allowed just three hits over eight innings.
» Blake Nelson and Miles Lewis each had three hits.
» Jack Blomgren hit an eighth-inning solo home run off the scoreboard in left field.

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (McLane Baseball Stadium)
Score: Michigan 6, Michigan State 3
Records: U-M (18-7, 1-0 B1G), MSU (4-19, 0-4 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 30 -- vs. Michigan State (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team pounded out 13 hits and got another impressive pitching effort from junior ace Tommy Henry as the Wolverines opened Big Ten Conference play with a 6-3 victory against Michigan State on Friday (March 29) at McLane Baseball Stadium.

Michigan (18-7, 1-0 B1G) broke open a scoreless game in the third inning. A leadoff walk to sophomore Joe Donovan was followed by a two-out single from junior Jordan Brewer. Redshirt senior Miles Lewis lined an RBI single into center field and senior Blake Nelson followed with a sharp single through the left side to stake the Wolverines to a 2-0 lead.

Donovan's hustle in the fourth inning helped U-M grab a 3-0 lead. With two outs, he dribbled a grounder to second base but ran hard all the way and beat the throw for an infield single. The next batter, sophomore Jordan Nwogu, then lofted a shallow fly ball to right that was misplayed and Donovan raced all the way home.

MSU put together its own two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth to edge closer. The short right-field wall at McLane Stadium came into play with a one-out double to start things off. Following a walk and a nice play from Nelson at third base, MSU advanced runners to second and third base with two outs. There, Bailey Peterson lofted a shallow single to left field, bringing both runners around to make it a 3-2 game.

U-M got the runs back in the fifth. Brewer was credited with a double to lead off the inning after his fly ball to center field was lost in the sun. Lewis then turned on an inside fastball and laced a double down the left field-line to make it 4-2. Nelson added a third straight double to the wall in left to bring home Lewis for a 5-2 lead.

Sophomore Jack Blomgren gave U-M a 6-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning when he rocketed a fastball off the scoreboard in left field for a solo home run.

Henry improved to 6-1 on the season with another efficient outing on the mound. The lefty allowed just three hits over eight innings while striking out four batters.

MSU tried to put a rally together with two outs against Benjamin Keizer and the Spartans scored a run on a double to wall in left, but the batter was cut down at third base trying to stretch it into a triple for the game's final out.

Lewis and Nelson led the Wolverine attack with three hits apiece while Brewer collected two hits.

The teams continue their weekend series Saturday at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium in a 2 p.m. start before finishing the weekend back in East Lansing on Sunday, and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.