Michigan Bats Strike Early, Often in Win Over Maryland to Move on at B1G Tourney

Friday, May 24

Omaha, Neb.

4:00 PM CT

Michigan

40-17

Maryland

29-29

Michigan

Maryland

Jimmy Kerr

Michigan Bats Strike Early, Often in Win Over Maryland to Move on at B1G Tourney

5/24/2019 10:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Tommy Henry struck out seven batters in six innings.
» Jimmy Kerr had three of Michigan's 13 hits to lead the offense.
» Five different batters drove in at least one run.

Site: Omaha, Neb. (TD Ameritrade Park)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Day 3 of 5)
Score: Michigan 10, Maryland 4
Records: U-M (40-17), Maryland (30-28)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 25 -- vs. Nebraska - Big Ten Tournament (Omaha, Neb.), 9 a.m. CDT

OMAHA, Neb. -- Junior left-hander Tommy Henry struck out seven batters over six innings and the second-seeded University of Michigan baseball team cruised past Maryland, 10-4, in a Big Ten Tournament elimination game Friday afternoon (May 24) at TD Ameritrade Park.

Michigan (40-17) advances to face Nebraska in a 9 a.m. game Saturday (May 25). The Wolverines will need to defeat the Huskers twice on Saturday in order to advance to Sunday's (May 26) championship game. If needed, the teams would play again at either 5 p.m. CDT on Saturday night, depending on earlier games in the day.

Michigan scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning as Jordan Nwogu (walk) and Jesse Franklin both touched home plate following a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Brewer, wild pitch and RBI groundout from Jack Blomgren.

Michigan held a 2-0 in the top in the top of the fifth, when a bizarre play put things in motion for the Wolverines. With two outs and Franklin on second, Blomgren earned a full-count walk on a check-swing. On the appeal to the first base umpire, Franklin started trotting towards third base and got caught in a rundown only to have a throw bounce off his helmet, and he rounded third and headed home while Blomgren hustled all the way to third base. One pitch later, Jimmy Kerr laced an RBI single to right field for a 4-0 lead.

The odd plays carried into the next inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Randy Bednar lofted what appeared to be a certain out on a foul popup to third base. Blomgren ran towards foul ground and called off third baseman Nelson but ran into third-base umpire Dave Condon and could not make the play. Two pitches later Bednar launched a two-run homer into the left field bullpen to make it a 4-2 game.

Blomgren was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh inning and advanced to third base on a sharp single to right from Kerr -- the senior's third hit of the day. Two batters later Joe Donovan laced an RBI single to left field for a 5-2 lead. A wild pitch then put runners in scoring position and Nelson delivered the sixth run with a sacrifice fly to right field after he stayed with an outside fastball to drive a deep enough ball to score Kerr from third base.

Blomgren plated the Wolverines' seventh run when he singled up the middle with two outs to score Nwogu (single, stolen base).

Henry (9-5) allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts over six innings.

Henry gave way to Isaiah Paige in the seventh inning and the freshman worked 1.1 innings of effective relief with two strikeouts. Maxwell Costes connected for his 17th homer of the season against Paige in the eighth inning and, following a single from Michael Piniero, Michigan went to the bullpen and Benjamin Keizer got out of further trouble by recording two outs on two pitches.

The Wolverines got the run back and more in the top of the ninth on doubles from Donovan, Nelson, Ako Thomas and Franklin to take a 10-3 lead. Maryland added another solo homer in the ninth but the outcome was never in doubt as the Wolverines reached the 40-win plateau.

Kerr led the way offensively with three of Michigan's 13 hits while Franklin, Nelson and Donovan had two apiece. Nelson also added two stolen bases, making him a perfect 14-for-14 on the season, with two runs batted in.