Michigan baseball gets key first win at NCAA Tournament

Michigan baseball got the all-important first win in the NCAA Tournament against Oregon and here’s a look at what’s ahead for the Wolverines. 

Michigan baseball got hot at the right time with wins in seven of their last eight games coming into the weekend including four of five last week to win the Big Ten tournament.

The Wolverines wouldn’t have made the NCAA Tournament without winning that tournament but their momentum kept rolling forward on Friday with an 8-6 win over Oregon that was sparked with some timely home runs.

Jimmy Obertop went yard twice for Michigan baseball in addition to making a stellar defensive play behind the plate late in the game. However, Matt Frey wound up being the hero for U-M thanks to his eighth-inning, two-run homer.

Cameron Weston and the defense shut the door on the Ducks after that and the Wolverines will take on Louisville, the No. 12 overall seed on Saturday at 4 PM EST.

Joey Velazquez, the Michigan football player, notched two hits and drove in two runs in the win, while Jimmy Obertop crushed two home runs for the Wolverines. The catcher also drove in four runs.

Michigan led multiple times in the game and was in front 6-2 at one point before the Ducks tied things up. That’s when Frey delivered the Wolverines’ third home run of the game.

Connor O’Halloran went 5 2/3 innings for the Wolverines and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out six. It wasn’t perfect but it was good enough as the offense notched 11 hits and plated eight runs after scoring an average of more than nine last week in the Big Ten tourney.

Michigan has won eight of nine games and will face the Cardinal on Saturday, the host team and 12th-seeded team in the national tournament.

Either way, the Wolverines will at least make it to Sunday.