Burton, Jefferis Lead Michigan to Rivalry Win Over Michigan State

Friday, April 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

20-17, 8-5

Michigan State

23-12, 6-4

Michigan State

Michigan

Ted Burton is congratulated at home plate after his home run in the fourth inning. (Michigan Photography)

Burton, Jefferis Lead Michigan to Rivalry Win Over Michigan State

4/21/2023 8:12:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team took down Michigan State 5-3 after some solid pitching and great hitting by the top of the order on Friday (April 21) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Noah Rennard got Michigan (20-17, 8-5 Big Ten) off to a strong start, tossing a scoreless first inning while leaving the bases loaded. The U-M bats gave Rennard an early lead in their half of the first. Cody Jefferis led off the frame with a leadoff single and scored two batters later when Jonathan Kim tripled to give the Wolverines a 1-0 advantage.

The lead did not last long as Michigan State (23-12, 6-4 Big Ten) scored two in the second. A double and a single followed by a sacrifice fly tied the game at 1. After a strikeout and a walk, an RBI single put the Spartans ahead 2-1.

U-M retook the lead in the bottom of the second. Mitch Voit worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single from Gabe Sotres. Jefferis singled to center field to plate Sotres and Voit to put Michigan on top 3-2. Back-to-back singles from Ted Burton and Kim brought Jefferis home for a 4-2 lead.

Burton added to the Wolverines lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left, his team-leading seventh on the year to push the U-M lead to 5-3. The homer also was the 25th of his career, tying him for 15th on Michigan's all-time home run list with David Parrish. Jimmy Obertop later singled to left field for his first hit of the season in his first game back after missing the season's first 36 games due to injury.

MSU got a run back in the fifth after a leadoff triple and a sacrifice fly for its final run of the game. Rennard was unfazed and used just three pitches to get the final two outs of the inning.

MSU threatened again in the top of the sixth. The Spartans put two on with two outs, and Tracy Smith called on Jacob Denner to preserve the lead. It took Denner one pitch to end the threat, forcing a flyout to center to end the inning.

Denner got some help from second baseman Burton in the seventh. After Denner fanned the first batter, the next two Spartans reached base. However, Burton ended the inning with an unassisted double play, snaring a line drive and stepping on second base before the runner could get back.

Voit took the mound in the top of the ninth and used just five pitches to retire the side to nail down the win and his fourth save of the season. Rennard picked up his sixth win, allowing three runs and scattering eight hits over 5.2 innings.

Michigan will continue its series against Michigan State on Saturday (April 22). First pitch at Ray Fisher Stadium is slated for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.