Bakich Gets 100th Career Win as U-M Baseball Tops Air Force
One of the youngest head coaches in college baseball, Erik Bakich picked up the 100th win of his career last night as Michigan beat Air Force 8-2 in the third game of their four-game Texas State Tournament opener in San Marcos, Texas. Fifth-year senior Ben Ballantine made an outstanding return from the gruesome ankle injury that ended his senior year prematurely, giving up just one hit and no earned runs in seven innings of work—and earning the win. (See also mgoblue.com recap.)
The victory followed a disappointing opening day that saw the Wolverines drop two games, both in 10 innings, 8-7 to Texas State and 8-6 to Washington. In both contests, Michigan went into the late innings with a decent lead—7-3 after six in the opener, 6-3 after seven in the nightcap—but the bullpen was unable to hold the advantages and the Wolverines batters failed to tack on any insurance runs.
Some hitting highlights from the first three games:
- Junior DH Kyle Jusick is hitting .455 (5-for-11), with 3 runs and 2 RBI
- Senior catcher Cole Martin's solid start includes a 3-run homer
- Juco transfer Jackson Glines has done well stepping into the large void left by Pat Biondi's graduation; batting leadoff, Glines is hitting .400 (6-for-15), with 3 runs, 3 RBI, and 1 stolen base
- Freshman Jackson Lamb is living up to the hype so far, going 4-for-6, with 3 doubles and 4 RBI
Michigan plays Washington again today at 1pm ET in their final game in this tournament. The Wolverines will send sophomore Evan Hill to the mound as they try to even their season and tourney record at 2-2.
February 16th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
Here's the full lineup for today's game:
U-M lineup vs. Wash. 2/16: Glines 8, Maezes 6, Cronenworth 5, Jusick dh, Lamb 7, Patrick 3, Wenson 2, Romano 4, Slater 9, Hill LHP
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) February 16, 2014
It's interesting to see freshman Harrison Wenson getting the first start of his Michigan career at catcher. This lineup shows how young the team is—0 seniors, 3 juniors (including newcomers Glines and Kendall Patrick), 3 sophomores, and 4 freshmen.
February 16th, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^
let's keep it up against Wiscy on the hardwood.
February 16th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
Thanks for the update. No doubt coach Bakich be successful with the program...great recruiter as well. Looking forward to attending a few games this spring...if it ever stops snowing.
February 16th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
Glines got things started again today with a leadoff single, later scoring on a sac fly. Then Lamb came through again:
HOME RUN!!! Jackson Lamb's two-run oppo shot gives Michigan a 3-0 lead. Bottom 1
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) February 16, 2014
February 16th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
Michigan was up 7-2 after four, but then Hill ran into trouble in the 5th and couldn't make it out of the inning. Washington scores 4, and the Wolverines now up only 7-6.
February 16th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^
Washington scored 1 in the top of the sixth to tie the game. It's now 7-7 after 6.
February 16th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
Game ends in a 7-7 tie after eight innings because of a travel curfew.
February 16th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
was Bud Selig somehow involved in that decision?
February 16th, 2014 at 6:41 PM ^
Michigan's first tie since 2000, according to the game recap. Quite a debut weekend for Jackson Lamb, who went 5-for-9, with 1 home run, 3 doubles, 3 runs scored, and 6 RBI.
The Wolverines will return to Texas next weekend for a three-game series against Houston.