Michigan Builds Big Lead, Hangs on for Victory Over Maryland

Friday, May 3

College Park, Md.

5:30 PM

Michigan

32-11, 0

Maryland

23-23, 0

Michigan

Maryland

Jordan Nwogu

Michigan Builds Big Lead, Hangs on for Victory Over Maryland

5/3/2019 9:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Jordan Nwogu hit his fifth home run of the season.
» Karl Kauffmann struck out eight and surrendered one earned run in seven innings of work.
» Willie Weiss got four outs to earn his ninth save.

Site: College Park, Md. (Bob Smith Stadium)
Score: Michigan 10, Maryland 7
Records: U-M (32-11, 12-3 B1G), Maryland (23-23, 8-8 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 4 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), 2 p.m.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Michigan baseball team built a 10-1 lead and held on for a 10-7 victory Friday night (May 3) over Maryland at Bob Smith Stadium.

Michigan jumped on top with a pair of runs in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from junior designated hitter Jordan Brewer and a long double to left from senior third baseman Blake Nelson.

Nwogu gave Michigan a 4-0 lead in the second when he launched his fifth home run of the year, a two-run shot over the batter's eye in center field. A Maryland error later in the inning made it 5-0.

Taylor Wright got Maryland on the board in the sixth when he took a two-out fastball from junior right-handed starter Karl Kauffmann over the left-center field wall.

Michigan answered loudly in the top of the seventh with five runs to take a 10-1 lead. Senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr, Nelson and sophomore shortstop Jack Blomgren delivered RBI singles, while senior second baseman Ako Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk and Nwogu was credited with a sacrifice fly when he flew out to the center-field wall.

Maryland edged closer in the bottom of the seventh as Chris Alleyne connected for a three-run homer off Kauffmann. All three runs were unearned following a fielding error earlier in the frame and Kauffmann finished another excellent start for the Wolverines by getting out of the inning and finishing with eight strikeouts against four hits, one walk and one earned run.

Michigan's bullpen faltered in the eighth inning, and Maryland continued to close on the Wolverines. Four walks, two wild pitches and two doubles made the score 10-7 and the Terrapins loaded the bases with two outs, forcing the Wolverines to go to freshman closer Willie Weiss. He answered the call and induced an inning-ending grounder and worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth by spinning a 4-6-3 double play and a three-pitch strikeout to end the game.

Nelson led the offense with three hits while Blomgren had two.

The Wolverines and Terrapins will continue their three-game series when the teams face off in game two Saturday at 2 p.m. from Bob Smith Stadium.