» Michigan took the second game of the series at Minnesota, winning 9-8.
» Noah Miller delivered a clutch hit in the ninth as part of a three-hit day. Brayden Jefferis also tallied three hits, scoring a run and adding an RBI.
» Slade Moore earned the win pitching 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The University of Michigan baseball team rallied multiple times, making the last one count, to take down Minnesota 9-8 on Saturday afternoon (May 9) at Siebert Field to even the series.
Michigan (30-18, 15-10 Big Ten) trailed 7-5 entering the seventh, but used a run in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at seven before taking the lead in the ninth. Colby Turner opened the ninth with a double before a walk to pinch-hitter Cooper Mullens put two runners on. After a strikeout, the Wolverines loaded the bases on a botched fielder’s choice and solid running from Turner. Another fielder’s choice retired Turner at the plate but kept the bases loaded. Noah Miller delivered with a single up the middle, scoring Keegan O’Hearn and Joonsung Park to move ahead 9-7.
Cade Montgomery took the mound in the bottom of the ninth to close it out. He allowed one run to score in the ninth, but a pair of strikeouts stranded two Gophers and secured the victory.
Minnesota (30-18, 11-14 Big Ten) took the lead in the second, scoring two runs on three hits before adding a three-run home run in the third to go up 5-0.
Shane Brinham settled in after the third, retiring the final six batters he faced, leaving the game after five innings.
The Wolverines scored twice in the fourth and tied the game in the fifth. The U-M fourth inning opened with a single from Turner and a walk from Cade Ladehoff. Brayden Jefferis singled, scoring Turner, and a Dane Morrow sacrifice fly scored Ladehoff to cut the deficit to 5-2.
In the fifth, Greg Pace Jr. drew a walk and Drew Culbertson singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Evan Haeger reached on a two-base error to plate Pace and Culbertson. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Turner and Matt Ossenfort tied the game at five.
The Golden Gophers jumped on the Wolverines bullpen, retaking the lead on a two-run home run. In the top of the seventh, Michigan got a run back when Culbertson reached on a walk and advanced on a groundout and wild pitch before scoring on a groundout by Turner.
Slade Moore stopped the Gophers in the sixth, stranding two, and repeated the feat in the seventh.
Michigan knotted the game in the seventh. Jefferis singled to center to open the inning. Jack Laffitte delivered a pinch-hit single to move Jefferis to third. Miller laid down a bunt single, scoring Jefferis and tying the game at seven. Culbertson drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but a groundout ended the frame.
Moore returned to the mound in the eighth and allowed two hits but struck out the final batter of the inning to keep the score tied and allowed Michigan to complete the comeback. Moore pitched 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Jefferis and Miller paced the Michigan offense with three hits each. Miller also led the team with three RBI. Turner also tallied multiple hits and added a run and two RBI.
The Wolverines will face Minnesota in the rubber match at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday (May 10) at Siebert Field. The series finale will be streamed live on B1G+.
