Michigan to Host Rutgers, Close Out Seven-Game Homestand

» Michigan enters the weekend in third place in the Big Ten.
» Michigan leads the Big Ten in team batting average and stolen bases.
» Among the game promotions this week is the second Bark in The Park on Sunday.

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
• Follow #Team153: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

PROMOTIONS
Friday, April 26: Student Study Break
Saturday, April 27: Super Hero Day, Postgame Autographs
Sunday, April 28: Bark In The Park, Disc Dogs

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team (28-11, 8-3 Big Ten) will wrap up a seven-game homestand this weekend with a Big Ten Conference series against Rutgers (15-21, 7-5 Big Ten). The series is set to begin Friday (April 26) at 6 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. Saturday's (April 27) game will begin at 2 p.m., and Sunday's (April 28) series finale has been moved up an hour to a noon start (originally scheduled for 1 p.m.).

• The Wolverines hold an 8-5 record in the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights. Michigan took two of three games in 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey, to win the series after dropping the weekend opener.

• Michigan began its seven-game homestand last week with a midweek game against Bowling Green (April 17) and followed it with a Big Ten series sweep of Northwestern over the weekend (April 21-22). The Wolverines are now 16-2 when playing at Ray Fisher Stadium this season.

• At home, the Maize and Blue offense has combined for a .317 batting average and has outscored its opponents by 94 runs. The Michigan pitching staff has held opponents to a .216 average and combined for a 2.43 earned-run average when inside the Wilpon Complex.

• Michigan is in third place in the Big Ten Conference with an 8-3 record and leads the league with the highest overall win percentage (.718). The Wolverines suffered their first Big Ten series loss at the hands of Ohio State, but have picked up series wins over Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern to date. Michigan was picked by the league's coaches to finish second in the Big Ten this season.

• Five Wolverines are hitting above .300 at this time, including junior Jordan Brewer (.364), sophomore Jordan Nwogu (.364), senior Blake Nelson (.330), junior Christan Bullock (.315), and sophomore Jack Blomgren (.305). Nwogu leads the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.489).

•Michigan's offense leads the Big Ten in batting average (.288), on-base percentage (.384), stolen bases (57) and doubles (87). The Wolverines also rank in the top three among conference opponents in total hits, runs, walks, home runs, sacrifice flyouts and slugging percentage.

• The Wolverines' 3.21 earned-run average leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks 14th-best in the nation. The pitching staff also has combined for a conference-high six shutout victories, which ranks tied for fifth in the country.

• Michigan was ranked 30th by the NCBWA this week and is receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The Wolverines have been ranked or receiving votes in the national polls each week dating back to the preseason rankings.

• Sophomore Jesse Franklin knocked his 10th homer of the season during the series opener at Ohio State (April 12), tying his freshman season total for home runs. With 20 career home runs in just his sophomore season, Franklin ranks tied for 18th all-time at Michigan.

• Junior college transfer Jordan Brewer owns the team's longest reached-base streak (26 games), which he extended with a base hit in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Ohio State (April 13). The outfielder has not played since the OSU series due to injury.