Michigan baseball earns a split to open 2023 season

It was a double-dip of games on opening day for the Michigan baseball team but the results were mixed for the Wolverines. 

The first day of the 2023 Michigan baseball season could have gone better, but it also could have gone worse for the Wolverines who finished the first day 1-1.

Michigan baseball opened the season at the MLB Desert Invitational and the first game of the season was against Fresno State in a game U-M won 6-2.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the second inning to take an early lead, but they wouldn’t cross the plate again. Michigan tied the score at 2-2 when Gabe Sotras homered. Tito Flores then gave the Wolverines the lead with an RBI single.

Ted Burton, who had three hits total for Michigan baseball, homered in the seventh and ninth innings in what ended up as a 6-2 win.

Connor O’Halloran got the win on the bump after allowing two runs on five hits. He also struck out four. Noah Rennard was solid in relief allowing two hits and zero runs in three innings of work.

Michigan baseball drops second game to Michigan State

Interestingly enough, Michigan took on in-state rival Michigan State in the second game of the day and the Spartans dispatched of the Wolverines 15-8 in a non-conference matchup.

Michigan grabbed an early 4-1 lead on a three-run double by Cody Jefferis who later scored on a sac fly by Michigan football player Joey Velazquez to make it 5-1 Wolverines.

Chase Allen allowed just two runs but was pulled after three innings and in the sixth inning, the Spartans plated five runs to take an 8-5 lead. The Spartans had another five-running inning in the eighth and it was too much for Michigan to overcome.

The Wolverines will take on UC San Diego on Saturday with the first pitch going out at 3 PM EST.