Michigan was entering the weekend on a hot streak, going for its seventh straight series victory when it traveled to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers in its final road series of 2026. To this point, Minnesota hasn’t been a big factor in the Big Ten race with just a 10-14 record in conference, but it has been respectable overall with a 29-18 overall record.
Here’s how the Wolverines were able to fare in their trip to the Twin Cities:
Game 1 – Friday
Michigan ace Kurt Barr took the mound for the series opener
on Friday, looking to continue his run of impressive starts. However, Minnesota had other plans, welcoming him to the game with a four-run first inning that included an RBI single from Charlie Sutherland and a three-run homer from Easton Richard. Minnesota added another run in the bottom of the second, with Jackson Bello scoring on a wild pitch, to make it a 5-0 game.
Michigan would make a dent in Minnesota’s lead in the top of the third inning, with Drew Culbertson smacking a solo homer to center field to make it 5-1. But Minnesota kept the heat on Michigan’s pitching, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third, including two on a home run from Ty Allen, effectively icing any hopes Michigan had of a comeback.
The offensive onslaught would continue, with the Golden Gophers scoring four more runs in the fourth to make it 12-1. They’d score an additional run in the sixth to go ahead 13-1. Michigan’s offense couldn’t muster anything, ultimately spelling a run-rule loss with the game called after seven innings.
Game 2 – Saturday
Minnesota continued its momentum into the early part of Saturday’s game, scoring two runs off Michigan’s Shane Brinham in the second and three more in the third inning to go up 5-0. It was looking like the Wolverines would be blown out for the second straight game, but the bats woke up in the fourth inning when Brayden Jefferis drove in a run with a single through the left side of the infield before Dane Morrow popped a sacrifice fly to center field, making it 5-2.
The offense would stay alive in the fifth inning and got the aid of some sloppy defense. With runners on first and second, an error from Minnesota first baseman Jack Bello allowed Greg Pace to score. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Colby Turner and Matthew Ossenfort helped drive in two more runs to make it a 5-5 game. Bello would atone for his error in the bottom of the sixth, though, hitting a two-run homer to give Minnesota a 7-5 lead.
Michigan would chip away at the lead again in the seventh with an RBI infield single from Turner. A bunt single in the eighth from Noah Miller allowed Jefferis to score from third base as well, making it a 7-7 game. Michigan would finally grab the lead for good in the ninth inning, with Miller at the plate again with the bases loaded. He hit a single up the middle, driving in two runs in the process.
Minnesota got a run back in the bottom of the ninth, but the Wolverines were able to hold on for a thrilling 9-8 victory to even the series.
Game 3 – Sunday
Michigan continued its momentum into the rubber match on Sunday afternoon. The Wolverines opened the second inning with three straight singles to load the bases before a Minnesota error allowed two runs to score. Michigan scored another courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Elie Kligman to go up 3-0.
In the top of the third, Colby Turner led things off with a solo homer to make it 4-0, while Matthew Ossenfort and Brenden Stressler each had RBIs to go up 6-0. Minnesota got a run back in the bottom of the third with a sac fly from Weber Neels to make it 6-1.
In the top of the fifth, Dane Morrow drove in Stressler with a double in the right-center field gap. Michigan then added another run in the top of the sixth via a solo homer from Evan Haegar. Minnesota’s Ty Allen clubbed a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to make it a little closer at 8-2.
The Golden Gophers wouldn’t wait too much longer to keep chipping away, with Jack Mosh hitting a homer to right field in the bottom of the seventh. They’d get two more runs later in the inning with a two-run homer from Davis Hamilton to make it 8-5. But Michigan’s bullpen would close it out without allowing further damage, helping Michigan clinch the series victory in the finale.
By winning 2-of-3 over the weekend, Michigan advanced to 32-18 overall on the year and clinched its seventh consecutive series win. The Wolverines’ late-season push has continued to cement their case for an NCAA Tournament bid, but they’ll still have to close out the regular season strong. They’ll play an important road game against Kent State — the best team in the MAC — on Tuesday night before one final series against a stingy Ohio State team beginning on Thursday night in Ann Arbor.
