Baseball Recap: Michigan sweeps Maryland for sixth straight series win

Up 10-0, the Wolverines could throw it into cruise control the rest of the way. In the top of the fourth, Turner would launch a home run to give the Wolverines three more runs. Maryland got to Michigan starter Shane Brinham in the bottom of the fourth with four runs of their own to make the score 13-4.

Maryland’s offense added one more in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases courtesy of two singles and a walk and then scoring on a fielder’s choice to make it 13-5.

Michigan’s offense had a few more swings in the top of the seventh, as Culbertson slapped a single to left field to drive in Matthew Ossenfort from second base. Later in the inning, Turner hit his second three-run homer of the game to put the Wolverines ahead 17-5. That would prove to be the final score, as Michigan won by the run rule in the eighth inning to clinch its sixth straight series victory.

Game 3 – Sunday

The Wolverines sent David Lally to the hill for the start in the series finale. He was nearly spotless through the first two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four before Michigan’s offense gave him some run support in the third. After Cooper Mullens reached with a single to lead off the inning, Colby Turner hit his third homer of the series to put Michigan up 2-0. Brayden Jefferis later tripled to drive in Evan Haegar, and was then driven in himself on a fielder’s choice for Matthew Ossenfort.

Maryland got two runners via back-to-back walks to lead off the fourth, after which Nate Hawton-Henley was able to drive in a run with a single through the right side to make it a 4-1 game. Michigan got a run back in the fifth courtesy of an attempted double steal with Jefferis being tagged out at second while Haeger bolted for home. Maryland would continue to battle, though, as Brayden Martin reached on a walk to lead off the bottom of the fifth before being driven in on a two-run homer from Jordan Crosland to make it a 5-3 game.

The Terps would continue to steal the momentum in the sixth. Michael Quedens came into the game in relief, but was quickly greeted by Ty Kaunas and Hawton-Henley, who hit back-to-back singles. The runners advanced on a sac bunt and then a balk, scoring a run in the process. Brayden Martin would then drive in the game-tying run with a single. In the seventh, Maryland took the lead with a two-run shot from David Mendez, making it 7-5.

Michigan had one last chance in the top of the ninth, as two runners reached via a hit by pitch and a walk. With two outs, Jefferis came through with an RBI single up the middle. Joonsung Park then played hero yet again, driving a double to right field to score two runs and give the Wolverines an 8-7 lead.

Despite allowing two walks in the bottom of the ninth, Cade Montgomery closed it out for Michigan to secure the sweep with the 8-7 victory.

With the sweep, Michigan continued this stretch of great baseball through the middle of the season, moving to 30-17 overall as it continues to pad its NCAA Tournament resume. It’s also moved up into a tie for fifth in the Big Ten standings with a 15-9 record against conference foes. The Wolverines will head on the road again on Tuesday, traveling down to Cincinnati to take on Xavier before going up to Minnesota for three games against the Golden Gophers over the weekend.