Michigan Coasts Past Rutgers in Series Opener

Friday, April 26

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

29-11, 0

Rutgers

17-22, 0

Rutgers

Michigan

Karl Kauffmann

4/26/2019 9:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Karl Kauffmann threw eight shutout innings while striking out five.
» Jordan Brewer had three hits including a two-run homer in his first at-bat since April 13.
» Eleven of Michigan's 14 hits came in the first four innings.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 8, Rutgers 3
Records: U-M (29-11, 9-3 B1G), Rutgers (17-22, 7-6 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 27 -- vs. Rutgers (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team launched a pair of first-inning home runs as the Wolverines shut down visiting Rutgers, 8-3, on Friday (April 26) night at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Michigan (29-11, 9-3 Big Ten) staked itself to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a pair of homers and rode a dominant pitching effort from junior Karl Kauffmann (7-3), who spun eight shutout innings.

Michigan started quickly when sophomore left fielder Jordan Nwogu led off the bottom of the first inning with a high home run over the left-field wall. Following a walk, junior center fielder Jordan Brewer crushed a 2-1 pitch for a line-drive home run over the wall in left for a 3-0 lead. Rutgers worked out of a near-disastrous inning when third baseman Carmen Sclafini snared a bases-loaded drive from senior second baseman Ako Thomas and turned a 5-3 double play.

Senior third baseman Blake Nelson led off the third inning with a ringing double down the left-field line and came around on an RBI single from Thomas.

In the fourth, sophomore designated hitter Jesse Franklin started things with a long double to the gap in right. Brewer's third hit of the game was followed by a run-scoring single from senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr and Brewer scored later on a double play ball to make it a 6-0 game. Two batters later, sophomore catcher Joe Donovan drove home another run to chase Rutgers starter Harry Rutkowski (2-4).

Kauffman was in command throughout his outing, scattering two infield singles while striking out five batters and walking just one while needing just 93 pitches.

Rutgers touched junior right-hander Jack Weisenburger for three runs in the ninth inning but the Michigan reliever also struck out the side.

Brewer and Nelson led the offense with three hits apiece while Kerr and Thomas each had two hits.

The Wolverines and Scarlet Knights will play game two of their three-game series Saturday (April 27) at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.