U-M Continues California Stretch at Stanford, Cal for Midweek Matchups

» Michigan plays two games this week against Pac-12 foes Stanford (March 3) and California (March 4).
» U-M finishes its spring break trip to California with a three-game series against Pepperdine (March 6-8).
» Michigan is ranked No. 10 by Baseball America and No. 16 by D1 Baseball.

THIS WEEK
Tuesday, March 3 -- at Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.), 6 p.m. PST
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Wednesday, March 4 -- at California (Berkeley, Calif.), 6 p.m. PST
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• Complete Notes (PDF)
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan baseball team will continue its California spring break trip with a pair of midweek matchups, taking on Stanford (March 3) and California (March 4) in Palo Alto and Berkeley, California, respectively.

Wolverine Bites

• The Wolverines are coming off a 2-1 weekend, taking the road series against Cal Poly with wins of 4-3 (Feb. 28) and 4-2 (March 1). The lone loss was an extra-inning affair in which Michigan fell, 5-4 (Feb. 29).

• U-M has a .500 record against both of its midweek opponents, owning a 3-3 all-time against Stanford and 6-6 mark against Cal.

• Just two seasons ago, Michigan dropped a four-game set to No. 8 Stanford, 3-1. In the lone victory, a 5-0 shutout, then-freshman Jack Blomgren led the Wolverines with a 2-for-4 day and drove in two. Other highlights in the series included four shutout relief innings from then-freshman Ben Dragani and a scoreless relief performance from then-freshman Angelo Smith.

• The last time Michigan matched up with Cal was on Leap Day 2016 (Feb. 29). The Wolverines defeated the No. 10 Golden Bears in shutout fashion, 5-0. Not a single member of the 2020 roster saw action in that game; however, student assistant coach Ako Thomas came in as a late defensive replacement and finished the final two innings in the field.

• Interestingly enough, that is the Maize and Blue's only victory on Leap Day in program history.

• Junior Blake Beers provided Michigan with a dominant showing to help the Wolverines win its road series at Cal Poly, Sunday (March 1). The right-hander tossed eight innings of two-hit ball, allowing just one earned run (two total runs) while striking out six Mustangs. Beers picked up his second win of the season with the performance.

• The righty now holds a 2.50 ERA on the season and has struck out 14 batters in 18.0 innings of work. Beers is also limiting opponents to a meager .152 batting average, and his eight-inning performance against Cal Poly was the deepest a Michigan pitcher has gone in a game this season.

• Junior Jack Blomgren was a key figure of the Wolverines' offense in the Cal Poly series, hitting .462 (6-for-13) over three games with a double, four runs batted in, an on-base percentage of .533 and a stolen base. The shortstop hit .600 (3-for-5) with runners in scoring position, .500 (4-for-8) with two outs -- and of his four RBI, three came with two outs.

• Though he didn't pick up the win, junior Jeff Criswell was spectacular in his outing against Cal Poly Friday (Feb. 28). The right-hander surrendered two runs (one earned) and three hits in 7.2 innings of work. He struck out six Mustangs and at one point retired 21-of-22 batters and 14 in a row.

• Junior Jordan Nwogu continued his hot start to the season, hitting .357 for the weekend (5-for-14) with four of those hits coming in the series finale against Cal Poly. The outfielder is now hitting a team-leading .400 in 2020.

• Also putting together a strong weekend at the plate was sophomore Riley Bertram, who hit .400 with three doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. The second baseman scored the go-ahead run in Friday night's extra-inning win over Cal Poly (Feb. 28). Bertram had two sacrifice bunts and two walks, and teamed up with Blomgren to turn six double plays.

• Senior Benjamin Keizer picked up his first save of the 2020 season by closing the door against Cal Poly in Sunday's (March 1) 4-2 victory. Keizer has seen action in a team-high six games so far this spring after setting the record for appearances (34) in 2019.

• With Keizer's first save, the Wolverines have now gotten a save from five different pitchers on the campaign. Freshmen Cameron Weston and Jacob Denner, sophomore Jack White, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Paige and Keizer have all picked up a save this season.

• During the Wolverines' non-conference schedule this season, U-M will take on five teams that played in the 2019 NCAA postseason: Vanderbilt, Arizona State, Connecticut, Stanford and Cal.

• U-M is scheduled to face 10 teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Additionally, the Maize and Blue will play 25 games at the Wilpon Complex in 2020.

Scouting the Opponents

• Michigan faces a Stanford program that has started the season 3-8 but just took a weekend home series, 2-1, over Grand Canyon.

• Of players who have played in all 11 games for the Cardinal, Tim Tawa leads with a .209 batting average. Some of the better sluggers, however, have played in fewer games. Cole Hinkelman has seen action in eight games and leads Stanford with four home runs, while Austin Kretzschmar has a .360 batting average in 25 at-bats.

• Starter Alex Williams leads the team with a microscopic 0.51 ERA, but the Wolverines will likely see Max Meier. The right-hander has a 2.35 ERA in two starts, having also made two appearances out of the bullpen.

• Michigan's second opponent of the week, California, has an identical record to Stanford at 3-8 but is coming into Wednesday's meeting on a three-game losing streak. California was sept on the road by No. 21 TCU.

• Third baseman Quentin Selma leads the Golden Bears with a .317 batting average, having started all 11 games this season. He has the team highs in hits (13), RBI (15) and doubles (3), and is tied for the team lead in home runs with one.

• Cal will call upon lefty Lucas Gather to face the Wolverines. On the season, Gather has a 7.94 ERA in four total appearances and just 5.2 innings of work, though he has made one start.