Michigan baseball blasts Indiana, stays alive in Big Ten tourney

Michigan baseball needed a win to stay alive on Friday and for the second straight day, the Wolverines came through in the clutch. 

This season has been unpredictable for Michigan baseball. There have been ups and downs, win streaks and losing streaks, but now, the Wolverines have some momentum.

Also, for the second day in a row, the Michigan baseball team avoided elimination and did it this time thanks to a 13-6 win over Indiana, the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

What made the victory even more impressive was that Michigan sent freshman Mitch Voit to the mound. Normally, he plays in the field. He has pitched this season in relief but Friday was his first career start and he was solid in 5 2/3 innings in a win.

Voit allowed a leadoff hit to start the game, then retired seven straight batters and struck out five on his way to earning the win.

Just like on Thursday, Michigan’s offense helped the cause early as Tito Flores gave U-M the lead with an RBI single in the third. Eventually, the lead ballooned to 3-0 after Voit helped his own cause with an RBI single.

Ted Burton, who came up clutch in the win over Illinois, delivered a two-run double in the fourth and suddenly, it was 6-0 Michigan baseball. Indiana trimmed the lead to 7-3 headed to the bottom of the sixth, but the Wolverines responded and Dylan Stanton got his third hit of the day to make it 9-3 Michigan.

Stanton got his fourth hit in the eighth inning, loading the bases eventually for Cody Jeffries who cleared them with a three-run double, adding the final runs to the 13-6 win.

Michigan is now 28-27 on the season and will face Iowa again on Saturday morning at 9 AM CST. If the Wolverines win, they will face Iowa later on Saturday for a shot at the Big Ten title game. Lose and the season is over.

The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.