The Michigan baseball team is off to a shaky 1-5 start in Big Ten play and are hoping to get on track this weekend on the road against Rutgers. Before we get into that series, let’s recap what went down during the week when Michigan hosted Oakland and Toledo.
Michigan vs. Oakland recap
Michigan started the week on Tuesday with a home game against Oakland. This seemed like it would be a relatively easy win for the Wolverines, but that was far from the case.
Oakland got on the board first and put Michigan in a hole by scoring
three runs in the second inning, but the Wolverines found a way back in it when Greg Pace Jr. got a rally started in the fourth inning. Pace knocked in one run on an RBI single, and Drew Culbertson made it a 3-2 game on an RBI groundout. Michigan got even later in the inning on a Brayden Jefferis groundout. It was 3-3 after the inning, but it felt like a missed opportunity for Michigan to score even more runs.
A bases loaded walk put Oakland back in front in the fifth, but Michigan clutched up with its back against the wall in the eighth. Culberton and Jefferis both came up with huge RBI hits to make it 6-4, and the Wolverines were just three outs away from avoiding the upset.
Michigan led by two going into the ninth inning, but the Grizzlies weren’t done. After getting within one on an RBI groundout, Oakland took the lead on a single that brought home two. The Wolverines were unable to score in the bottom of the inning and the Grizzlies went home with a 7-6 win.
Michigan vs. Toledo recap
After the ugly loss on Tuesday, Michigan got back on track with a win against Toledo on Wednesday. The Rockets got on the board first to go up 1-0 in the first inning, but Michigan evened it up in the bottom of the inning on a Cade Ladehoff single. The Wolverines took the lead on a Josh Campbell RBI single in the second inning, and the lead grew to two when Drew Culbertson stole home.
Toledo was able to make it 3-2 in the third inning, but Campbell continued his big day in the third and fifth innings with two more RBI singles. That was all Michigan needed, and the Wolverines eventually earned a 5-2 win. Grant Bradley got the win on the mound.
Michigan vs. Rutgers preview
After the 1-1 week, Michigan is entering this three-game series against Rutgers with a 12-12 overall record and a 1-5 mark in conference play. Rutgers is currently 14-10 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play.
Last season, Rutgers was on a pretty similar level to Michigan. The Scarlet Knights finished 29-28 overall and 15-15 in conference play. They made the Big Ten Tournament and won their first game, but the season ended after losing to Iowa.
So far this season, Rutgers doesn’t really have any marquee wins. The Scarlet Knights have zero wins vs ranked teams and haven’t been very battle-tested at all.
In Big Ten play, Rutgers has played Michigan State and Illinois. The Scarlet Knights took two out of three against the Spartans, and then they lost two of three against the Fighting Illini.
Players to watch
The Rutgers bats have been off to a hot start so far, as the Scarlet Knights have three full-time starters hitting over .300. Outfielder Peyton Bonds is leading the way, as he is hitting .398 through 24 games. He also leads the team in home runs with six.
Catcher Trey Wells is having a big year so far as well. He is hitting .354 with two homers and 18 RBIs this season.
Lastly, infielder Ryan Jaros is another dangerous bat in the lineup. He is hitting .313 on the young season with two homers and 15 RBIs.
Michigan will probably see Chris Sand and Zack Konstantinovsky on the mound, but it’s hard to know who Rutgers will have pitch a third game, as the Scarlet Knights have a few guys battling in that part of the rotation.
Sand has been solid so far this season, giving up nine earned runs in 20.1 innings, which is good for a 3.98 ERA. Konstantinovsky has given up 13 earned runs in 27 innings. He currently has a 4.33 ERA.
Series schedule
- Game 1: 3/27, 6 p.m. ET, B1G+
- Game 2: 3/28, 3 p.m. ET, B1G+
- Game 3: 3/29, 1 p.m. ET, B1G+
After starting 1-5 in Big Ten play, Michigan needs a series win. Rutgers isn’t that good, but this isn’t going to be an easy series by any means. The Wolverines will need to bring their A-game, and they need to come home with at least two wins.
