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Breaking down Michigan baseball’s NCAA Tournament hopes

By Chris Peterson

Jun 26, 2019; Omaha, NE, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Erik Bakich huddles with players after game three of the championship series of the 2019 College World Series against the Vanderbilt Commodores at TD Ameritrade Park . Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2019; Omaha, NE, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Erik Bakich huddles with players after game three of the championship series of the 2019 College World Series against the Vanderbilt Commodores at TD Ameritrade Park . Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Following a series loss to Maryland, Michigan baseball could be on the bubble in terms of making the NCAA Tournament. 

Michigan baseball played its last home series of the season this weekend and in the grand scheme of things, it was an important one against Maryland.

The Terps, just like the Wolverines, are fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives and in a series that started on Friday in Ann Arbor, Maryland took two of three games from Michigan baseball.

The Wolverines lost in extra innings on Friday night but responded with a 14-3 win on Saturday. Yet, in the deciding game of the three-game set, Michigan couldn’t muster much offense and fell to 26-15 after a 7-3 loss.

Michigan has a three-game series against Nebraska to go before the season ends. However, the losses to Maryland has opened the door for the Huskers to wrap up the Big Ten championship on Sunday with a victory over Ohio State.

That’s significant this season because there won’t be a Big Ten Tournament, meaning the automatic bid goes to the regular-season champion.

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If the Huskers lose, Michigan could still have an outside shot at winning the Big Ten title, but it would need at least one loss from Maryland and three straight wins over Nebraska in Lincoln.

Even after two of the three losses this weekend, Michigan, which started the week in all three NCAA baseball polls, still looks like it will be projected to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Wolverines were a two seed last week according to Baseball America and even though the outlet predicted Michigan baseball would win the Big Ten and earn the automatic berth, Michigan shouldn’t drop from a two seed to out of the tournament.

Michigan was also projected to be an at-large berth from D1baseball.com. U-M was also listed as a two-seed in that bracket and while Michigan could drop a line after dropping two of three against Maryland, it could turn that around by winning the series at Nebraska.

Yet, Big Ten got rough treatment in the NCAA softball selection, so the Wolverines shouldn’t take anything for granted.

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