Michigan Baseball completes incredible Big Ten Championship run

For the first time since 2015, Michigan baseball has won the Big Ten baseball tournament, and what a magical run it was for the Wolverines. 

A few weeks ago, when Michigan baseball dropped six of seven games, it didn’t look like the Wolverines would be playing in the NCAA Tournament this season.

But Michigan baseball closed the season on a strong note, winning three of their last four in conference play and Erik Bakich worked his magic again as the Wolverines defeated Rutgers 10-4 to win their second game of the day and the Big Ten tournament championship.

Michigan beat Illinois and Maryland in the first two rounds to reach the semifinals undefeated but dropped a game to Iowa 7-3 on Saturday night. Michigan turned around and played Iowa again Sunday afternoon and crushed the Hawkeyes 13-1 to advance to the winner-take-all championship game against Rutgers.

Michigan capped off a historic run

Michigan grabbed the early 2-0 lead against Rutgers, just like against Iowa, but the Scarlet Knights evened things up at 2-2. However, in the fifth inning, Joe Stewart, who set a Big Ten tournament record for runs scored, led off the inning with a double. Matt Frey brought him in and it was 4-2.

The Wolverines led from that point on but you didn’t really know it was over until Jimmy Obertop hit the biggest three-run home run of his life.

With the score 5-3 Michigan, Obertop came to the plate with two runners on base and he blasted one out of the park.

Michigan tacked on a couple of more runs in the ninth, then despite giving up a run in the ninth, turned a key double play and wrapped up a 10-4 win, a win that secures the Wolverines’ berth in the NCAA baseball tournament.

Jacob Denner should also get plenty of credit because not only did he get the win, he was huge on the mound. He got Michigan out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and also retired eight straight batters at one point, while striking out seven total.

The Wolverines played five games in four days and needed four pitchers to close things out on Sunday but that was nothing compared to the 10 Rutgers used.

Michigan notched 10 hits with Joe Stewart and Riley Bertram leading the way with two each. Both of Stewart’s hits were doubles, yet no hit was bigger than Obertop’s.

The Wolverines came into the week 12-12 in Big Ten play but went 4-1 when it mattered most and now they have more baseball to play.