Michigan ties up Penn State series with 8-7 win after an early burst of runs 

Switching in a few new faces into the lineup, the Michigan baseball team looked to recoup itself following a loss to Penn State on Friday. And with this influx of new energy, the Wolverines’ bats found green, propelling them to a win over the Nittany Lions.

Michigan (14-12 overall, 6-5 Big Ten) took on Penn State (7-9, 6-5) for the second day in a row, looking to tie up the series 1-1. Alongside powerful hitting early on, the Wolverines took the lead in the third inning and never relinquished it, winning 8-7.

Just like the first game of the series, Michigan got to the scoreboard first. Following a single from graduate shortstop Benny Casillas, freshman center fielder Brayden Jefferis made his way to the plate for his third start of the year. Wasting no time, Jefferis sent the first pitch he saw flying into left field, bringing Casillas in from first for the Wolverines’ first run of the day.

With bats still hot from the day before, Penn State took the lead, 2-1, going into the bottom of the third inning. Already back to the start of the lineup, Casillas made his way to first after getting hit by a wayward pitch, but got out on a fielder’s choice as Jefferis reached first. Swinging third, graduate first baseman Jeter Ybarra earned his first homer of the year after smashing a ball to the top of the scoreboard in right field.

Coming off a year that saw comebacks define its season, this early explosion of runs shows that Michigan’s finally finding its stride. No longer completely dependent on their opponents to fire them up by scoring runs first, the Wolverines are beginning to coalesce as a unit earlier and quicker into games.

While it doesn’t need their adversaries to score first, big innings are still pushing Michigan towards wins. In the fourth, the Wolverines hit four singles and alongside a walk and two sacrifice grounders, earned four runs.

Now leading 8-2, Michigan had taken the dominant position in the game. However, the Wolverines were unable to find any more runs in their next four innings. With some quality pitching and fielding, they were able to hold on to the win, 8-7.

Being ready from the first pitch hinted at success for the Wolverines. And alongside the early burst of runs, they kept that success going as they held onto their lead from the third inning for the win.

The post Michigan ties up Penn State series with 8-7 win after an early burst of runs  appeared first on The Michigan Daily.