Michigan Baseball: Key info for Big Ten tourney opener against Illinois

Michigan baseball is going to need to win the Big Ten tournament to reach the NCAA tournament and the Wolverines open Wednesday with Illinois. 

After a 28-25 season that was a little on the disappointing side, Michigan baseball will have a chance to extend its season this week by winning the Big Ten Tournament.

The Wolverines have done it before (2015) and their quest to do it again starts on Wednesday night (9 PM CST) against Illinois, the fourth-seeded team in the Big Ten. Michigan finished the season in fifth but didn’t clinch its tournament berth until last Thursday.

Illinois finished tied for second with Rutgers and Iowa but dropped to fourth on a tiebreaker. Michigan just took two of three games from Rutgers and has won three of four total.

However, the Wolverines lost six of seven before that. The good news is that Joe Stewart, Clark Elliott, Matt Frey, and others on the offense have been on a tear. Even in a defeat on Saturday, Michigan scored 13 runs.

Elliott and Stewart are both hitting north of .340 and each has reached double-digits in home runs and doubles. Elliott has 17 doubles and 12 homers, while Stewart has 11 of each. Matt Frey is also batting .304 and has 10 bombs to his credit, while Tito Flores is batting .295 with 10 homers too.

Pitching is going to be the big key Connor O’Halloran (4-4), Chase Allen (6-1), and Cameron Weston (4-3) have all been up and down this season.

Weston earned two saves last weekend over Rutgers but Willie Weiss has returned and pitched well last weekend, which is a good sign for the bullpen.

Illinois boasts Cam McDonald, who hit .365 during the season, and also Justin Janas who hit .355. Cole Kirschsieper also earned a 7-3 record on the mound and there’s a chance Michigan sees him on the bump Wednesday night in Omaha.

The Big Ten tournament is double-elimination, but a loss on day one isn’t what you want. Michigan’s opener will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.