In a tight Big Ten conference, the Michigan baseball team needed a big series to claim a prime position heading into the Big Ten Tournament. But when the Wolverines needed to come through most, they couldn’t muster the strength to make the difference.

In its final regular season series, Michigan (26-26 overall, 13-11 Big Ten) was swept by Ohio State (31-25, 9-15), losing by lopsided scores of 7-3, 9-5 and 7-2, respectively. And while blowing its opportunity to move up in the Big Ten standings, one phrase summarized the Wolverines’ weekend: What can go wrong will go wrong.

In Friday’s opener, Michigan was bludgeoned early and often. Usually with junior left-hander Connor O’Halloran on the mound, the Wolverines feel it can beat anybody in the nation. On Friday, however, O’Halloran’s uncharacteristic performance was a large reason why Michigan dropped its series opener to the Buckeyes.

Far from his usual self, O’Halloran only pitched 4.1 innings. And in those innings, he allowed five runs and seven hits. By the time he exited the ballgame, the Wolverines were dug into a 5-1 hole. And due yet another inconsistent offensive performance, the Wolverines could not climb back out of it.

“(We have to) pitch the baseball better and certainly throw strikes,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “It all starts on the mound (and) we just haven’t done a good job of that.”

The lone bright spot of Friday’s game was senior designated hitter Jimmy Obertop. Obertop knocked in all three runs for the Wolverines via two home runs in the second and sixth innings, respectively.

But otherwise, the offensive production was disastrous, as Michigan left nine runners on base. Similar to the Xavier loss earlier in the week, the Wolverines proved unable to produce with runners in scoring position, yet again — even blowing a bases-loaded opportunity in the third inning. Once again, Michigan’s own offensive miscues shot itself in the foot.

“I was disappointed,” Smith said of the Wolverines’ offense. “I was just disappointed with our approach. It’s unacceptable (and) not characteristic of this group. … Our offensive approach has to be way better.”

And unfortunately for Michigan, its difficulties continued on Saturday en route to another dominant performance by Ohio State. This time, however, the offense improved, and the loss instead was attributed more to the pitching. Due to the loss of junior right-hander Chase Allen, the Wolverines once again employed senior right-hander Noah Rennard on the mound, forcing him to play out of his role as a reliever for another weekend.

In the loss, Rennard’s true role showed. Rennard lasted just four innings and, in a lackluster performance, Michigan quickly fell behind, 4-0, after just two innings of play. Although the Wolverines returned with two runs of their own off of a two-run home run from senior second baseman Ted Burton in the top of the third inning, they simply couldn’t keep the momentum rolling. 

Similar to Friday’s contest, Michigan’s offense couldn’t capitalize after holding the Buckeyes to scoreless innings. And eventually, the Wolverines paid for it in the form of home runs by center fielder Trey Lipsey and right fielder Mitchell Okuley to extend Ohio State’s lead to 6-2 in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. A triple from Lipsey later in the sixth inning only put the game further out of reach for Michigan and, despite a small rally in the ninth inning, the Wolverines came up short once again.

Michigan came into this series controlling its own destiny. Leave Columbus with a sweep, and its prospects would have looked much better heading into postseason play starting next Tuesday.

But because the Wolverines failed to do what they hoped due to their own vices, they’re on the wrong side of a tough conference bracket.

The post Michigan’s inconsistencies lead to series loss against Ohio State appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

No matter how an offense performs, throwing strikes and controlling the mound is what wins games. And on Tuesday, the Michigan baseball team found itself on the wrong end of that statement, translating to an inconsistent outing across the board.

In the Wolverines’ final home game of the season, Michigan (26-23 overall) was dominated by Xavier (32-20), 14-2, despite a promising start.

Similar to its series against Northwestern, the Wolverines’ offense started hot in the bottom of the first inning. Courtesy of a fly ball into left field from sophomore designated hitter Joe Longo, graduate shortstop Cody Jefferis scored quickly, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead. But that was the only time it led all game long.

Like so many midweek games before, freshman right-hander Kurt Barr took the mound to defend the lead. This time, however, Barr didn’t start off hot. After walking two batters in the second inning, Barr was pulled from the game, and the Musketeers capitalized on his ineffectiveness, scoring a run of its own to tie the game at one.

A strong third inning for Xavier continued its resurgence. Left fielder Andrew Walker doubled to open the inning, ending graduate left-hander Walker Cleveland’s day. As a result, two singles from Xavier batters added two runs to the board, and suddenly it held a two-run advantage over Michigan. After Barr’s early exit, the Wolverines’ pitching struggles showed — and cost it dearly.

“We struggled on the mound, no question,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “That has to be better. It’s just not what we’re looking for. … Tough day all around.”

The Wolverines’ offense showed the same signs of such inconsistency. After loading the bases with no outs, senior left fielder Tito Flores reduced the deficit to one with a sacrifice fly into right field. However, senior right fielder Joey Velazquez was caught stealing at third, reducing the threat for the Musketeers. A subsequent groundout by graduate first baseman Jack Van Remortel put final touches on a third inning that left much to be desired for Michigan.

Xavier’s fourth and fifth innings continued to exploit the Wolverines inconsistencies. A two-out double from Walker scored another run for the Musketeers, extending their lead back to two and erasing Michigan’s prior efforts. Xavier then added to its lead with a single from right fielder Alex Helmin, making matters even worse for the Wolverines — now a three run deficit. Michigan’s failure to execute continued to set it back, and in the middle innings, it proved costly.

Its inconsistencies continued to run rampant the longer the game went on. With runners in scoring position in the sixth inning and only one out, senior designated hitter Jimmy Obertop struck out in a pinch-hit opportunity before Jefferis popped out to retire the side. Once again, the Wolverines failed to bring their runners home, and the scoreboard reflected those failures.

“If you got guys on base and you’re not scoring, that’s typically not going to be good. You can do everything right. You can hit a baseball hard, but hit it at somebody,” Smith said. “We left 10 guys on base. Obviously that didn’t bode well for us today.

Back-to-back home runs by the Musketeers contributed to a nine-run seventh inning that served as the cherry on top to Michigan’s disastrous outing, bringing its deficit to 12 runs after a pair of two RBI hits by pinch hitter Teddy Deters and Walker and a three-run bomb by second baseman Jared Cushing — his second of the inning. 

“We put it over the middle of the plate (and) they hit it out of the park,” Smith said of the high-scoring inning.

And when the smoke cleared, it was evident that the Wolverines have a ways to go before postseason play commences. If they want to last in the postseason, outings like Tuesday’s need to be nonexistent — and fast.

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Before Sunday, it had been 16 years. Sixteen years since a member of the Michigan baseball team hit for the cycle.

On Sunday, graduate shortstop Cody Jefferis reset the clock on that metric with a four-hit performance against Northwestern. And to make things even sweeter, he did it on Senior Day.

Jefferis, a mainstay all season long for the Wolverines, transferred to Michigan for his final collegiate season from San Diego. From drawing countless crucial walks to making crucial plays on defense, Jefferis’ value and consistency cannot be understated. Holding the leadoff spot all season long is a testament to the experience and stability he brings to a roster that entered the season with many question marks.

“Mr. Steady,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said of Jefferis. “He’s not the biggest dude on the planet. He’s not the biggest player but he plays with a big heart and he’s just super steady. You feel so good when balls are hit to (shortstop) because it’s going to be an out.”

In Sunday’s series finale, that steadiness came from his bat. And it came at a time when it was very much needed for the Wolverines.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Michigan was struggling. Its offensive production was lackluster, leaving much to be desired. After an RBI from senior third baseman Brandon Lawrence, though, the Wolverines knotted the game at three, but still needed a big play to change the trajectory of the game.

When Jefferis walked up to the plate, he did exactly that, going above and beyond what Michigan needed.

With two outs, Jefferis untied the game with one crack of the bat, hitting a three-run home run to give the Wolverines a 6-3 lead, his first home run of the season. Suddenly, Michigan was back in control, just like it was on Friday and Saturday. After difficulties to start the game, “Mr. Steady” was the one who re-established the status quo for the Wolverines.

“(It was) awesome,” Jefferis said. “Glad it finally came. But it was great to do it on Senior Day (with) everybody here.”

But that wasn’t Jefferis’ only game-defining play of the day. After Michigan allowed a two-run seventh inning, the Wildcats remained in striking distance. Once again, the Wolverines needed someone to step up and add some run support. And once again, Jefferis took it upon himself to do the honors.

With the bases loaded, Jefferis hit a triple, scoring all three of his teammates. In the process, he secured the first cycle of his collegiate career. Michigan’s lead ballooned up to seven runs, and it was in prime position to secure a much-needed series sweep after a lackluster weekend against Minnesota.

“I was just going up (to the plate) trying to score runs,” Jefferis said. “(I wanted to) keep (the momentum) going. It was awesome.”

For a player who consistently makes big plays, Jefferis went above and beyond on Sunday in his best performance in the maize and blue. Smith may have called Jefferis Mr. Steady, but his performance at the plate was anything but routine.

The post Cody Jefferis’ career day powers Michigan to series sweep over Northwestern appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

After losing two out of three games this past weekend against a Minnesota team that was 13-30 entering the series, the Michigan baseball team didn’t have much to be happy about. 

The Wolverines’ offense was sluggish all weekend, and mishaps on the defensive end granted the Golden Gophers opportunities to keep the games close — something they capitalized on in Saturday’s contest. But when the smoke cleared on Sunday and Michigan escaped with a single elusive win, at least one positive could be taken away from an otherwise disastrous weekend.

That positive? A career outing from senior left-hander Jacob Denner.

Thrust into the starting role in a series that was already over, Denner still rose to the occasion. He pitched a career-high in innings in the form of a complete game, compiling seven strikeouts and only allowing one earned run. That run came in the seventh inning, well after the Wolverines had already established a sizable lead. 

Denner also allowed just seven baserunners in his outing. It was by far the best performance of the season — if not his career — and with his efficiency on the mound, he picked up his first win of the year. And with such a thin bullpen all season long, any solid pitching performance is music to Michigan coach Tracy Smith’s ears.

“He put us on his back today,” Smith said Sunday. “He did a great job. … Even the deeper into the game (he went), I thought he was getting more effective. … He was still throwing strikes … which we needed, because every win at this point is crucial to get to that Big Ten Tournament.”

Like Smith said, at this point in the season every win truly is crucial in conference play — especially in a conference as tight as the Big Ten. 

Just two losses sent the Wolverines down from a top-three spot to barely holding postseason positioning. With Michigan likely needing a Big Ten Tournament victory to even continue playing past the end of May, Denner’s performance was huge for the Wolverines.

But for Denner, his outing was not just the product of his own hard work. Rather, he also attributes his success to coaching and a shared team mindset.

“I think the coaching staff did a great job over the weekend trying to take it one day at a time and really just hone in on each individual game and individual pitch,” Denner said. “And I think that’s the best mindset that we can carry through. And if we can, if we can do that effectively, I think things will take care of themselves.”

With question marks rapidly appearing for Michigan as the regular season’s end approaches, Denner’s gutsy performance was a necessity for the Wolverines’ confidence. All season long, Smith has been looking for pitchers to support junior left-hand ace Connor O’Halloran.

“I think there’s question marks,” Smith said April 3. “ … Meaning the depth of the pitching staff and searching for guys to step up and seize these roles.”

If Denner can continue to pitch effectively from the mound into the postseason, perhaps he can be part of the answer.

The post Jacob Denner’s career day provides spark for Michigan despite losses appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

For the Michigan baseball team to win its series against Minnesota, it needed to play nine innings of quality baseball. But as Saturday’s game ended in a double play off the bat of sophomore designated hitter Joe Longo, so did the Wolverines’ hopes of taking home a series victory.

And for Michigan, those imperfections showed immediately. In fact, all the Golden Gophers needed was one big inning. Through their subpar play on the defensive end, the Wolverines let that happen — and did so on multiple occasions.

Friday’s loss was just the first example of Michigan’s struggles over the weekend. Even with junior left-hander Connor O’Halloran in the game, Minnesota produced instant offense. The Gophers quickly got on base with a leadoff walk from center fielder Brett Bateman, and their continued patience at the plate allowed for successful at-bats and the advancement of baserunners throughout the inning. 

A single from third baseman Jake Perry scored two runs for Minnesota, and by the end of the inning, it had a three-run advantage over the Wolverines. Offensive inconsistencies have plagued them all season long and made it infeasible for them to recover. Even when Michigan played up to par on defense in the other eight innings, one weak defensive inning for the Wolverines essentially won the game for the Gophers due to its lack of offense. 

“I don’t think we were focused across the board,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “We did a terrible job. We didn’t do much well from an offensive standpoint, just bad all weekend, and that really contributed to Connor (O’Halloran’s) …  struggle … we (didn’t) score and give (him) run support.”

On Saturday, the circumstances were different. This time, Michigan entered the bottom of the eighth inning with a 2-0 lead after a leadoff solo shot from freshman right fielder Greg Pace Jr. All the while senior right-hander Noah Rennard was dealing on the mound through a career-high seven innings. However, that all quickly unraveled after Rennard walked his first two batters of the inning, forcing Smith to replace him with freshman right-hander Mitch Voit.

And with Rennard out of the game, Minnesota pounced. Voit walked his next two batters, reducing the Wolverines’ lead to one. And a one-out double by second baseman Brady Counsell brought in two more runs, giving the Gophers their first lead of the ballgame. To top the inning off, a sacrifice fly tacked on a fourth run to the inning, accomplishing a 4-2 lead.

Despite the outcome of the inning, Smith remains confident in the pitching system he employed.

“Mitch Voit has been the guy for us all year,” Smith said. “This was one of the first times this season (that we didn’t hold the lead). I was disappointed but we would script that out all over again. I don’t know that we would’ve done that differently.”

When all was said and done, Minnesota had a domineering lead, and Michigan had just three outs to make up the deficit. And now, the Wolverines are right in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten standings. After starting at third place on Friday, they finished at seventh when the weekend concluded, just barely sneaking into the conference tournament.

“We talked about it (Saturday), how (Saturday’s) game was a gut check, a tough one to lose,” senior left-hander Jacob Denner said. “We understand where we are. Our backs are somewhat against the wall.”

Michigan needed a strong performance from their offense in the ninth inning. But unlike its opponent, that performance never came. And as the Gophers celebrated a series win after the Wolverines collapsed, all Michigan can do is watch as it let another series slip away.

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If there’s one thing that the Michigan baseball team has no shortage of, it’s experience. All season long, the same group has led the Wolverines through every practice and game, providing a foundation for the rest of the team to build upon.

That group? Senior second baseman Ted Burton, senior left fielder Tito Flores and senior designated hitter Jimmy Obertop.

And even while each member of Michigan’s leadership team proves vital to the success and future of the program, they each do so in different ways.

Take Obertop, for example. He missed over half of the Wolverines’ season due to injury before returning April 21 against Michigan State. Even while sidelined, Obertop made sure to play his part, coaching his younger teammates and providing a veteran presence they could rely upon.

“We’ve got a lot of new guys and we also have a lot of older guys,” Obertop said Feb. 9. “(We’re working on) continuing what we did at the end of the year last year, just working together as a team. Just helping guys out (in) any way they need.”

And through taking on whatever role asked of him thus far, Obertop has proven ready and willing to lead, even going as far as to support Burton in his return to the plate. By having Obertop’s steady presence in the lineup, pressure to produce has been taken off of the other eight batters. They know what he’s capable of, and Obertop simply taking swings is enough to provide a spark.

“Jimmy is my roommate, my best friend,” Burton said. “ … Whether it’s Jimmy or anyone — but especially Jimmy — I know if I don’t get my job done, Jimmy’s going to pick me up, and vice versa.”

Burton’s mentality translated over to Flores as well in Friday’s loss to Oklahoma State. On the day, Burton had three hits for two RBIs, including a moonshot over the left-field wall to tie the game in the fifth inning. Flores — even while having a streaky season — also made contributions, picking up a home run of his own in the loss, while Obertop continued to shake off the rust with a single.

To put it simply, Michigan coach Tracy Smith loves what he’s seeing. And he credits it all to the seniority of his leadership group.

“Nothing replaces experience,” Smith said. “It’s good to have that. And Jimmy, he’s not even going yet. … But (Burton’s) settled in it looks like to me. I thought he (saw) the ball really well today. And same thing with Tito. Tito’s last week or so has been more like Tito last year. So we’re gonna need these guys down the stretch. And they’re fun for our younger guys to watch.”

And while being fun to watch, it’s clear each senior continues to make their own mark on the program. Right before their eyes, freshmen such as third baseman Mitch Voit and center fielder Jonathan Kim have carved out everyday roles in the lineup, following the lead of their senior mentors. And now, they’re on their way to becoming veterans for the next generation of Wolverines to look up to, just like the mentors before them.

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With two runners on base and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, senior second baseman Ted Burton stepped up to the plate. But as the fly ball flew off his bat and into Oklahoma State center fielder Zach Ehrhard’s glove, the Michigan baseball team’s hopes fell just short.

After a close back-and-forth affair, junior left-hander Connor O’Halloran and company eventually proved unable to keep up with the Cowboys’ potent offense. Once again, the Wolverines were close to victory — just not close enough.

In Saturday’s series opener after a Friday rainout, Michigan (21-19 overall) fell to Oklahoma State (29-13), 5-3, despite a solid outing from O’Halloran and the Wolverines offense.

“I don’t have a complaint about the way we played,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “… I thought we competed.”

From the first batter he faced, O’Halloran proved up to the task of pitching against the Cowboys. In the top of the first inning, O’Halloran recorded all three outs himself, catching a fly ball before picking up his first two strikeouts of the game in dominant fashion.

“(O’Halloran) was great,” Smith said. “He is who he is. That’s one of the better pitchers in the country. I just love when he’s out there because he’s gonna compete his tail end off, which he did again today.”

In the second inning, however, O’Halloran wasn’t so lucky. First baseman David Menham blasted the ball to right-center field, scoring Oklahoma State’s first run of the ballgame. Early on, the Cowboys took a 1-0 lead behind their potent offense.

But not for long. In the bottom of the side, the Wolverines showed they were capable of keeping up with Oklahoma State’s bats behind a home run from senior left fielder Tito Flores to tie the game at one. After O’Halloran gave up a run earlier in the inning, the offense made sure to get one back, rallying behind its pitcher.

Scoring one run wasn’t enough for the Cowboys, though. Outfielder Carson Benge hit an RBI groundout to put Oklahoma State up 2-1 in the top of the third inning. The Cowboys’ explosive offense showed itself to be as advertised, quickly turning the game into a question of whether or not Michigan could play catch up.

By the bottom of the inning, the Wolverines attempted to put that question to bed. Burton knocked in junior catcher Gabe Sotres with an RBI single to tie the game at two, proving Michigan was able to stay competitive — even with one of the best teams in the country.

But after a one-two-three inning in the fourth inning from O’Halloran, the Cowboys once again showcased their offensive might with a Benge sacrifice fly, granting them a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. While the Wolverines continued to play catch up, Oklahoma State continued to set the tone.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Burton continued the pattern. His third hit and second RBI of the day was a solo home run over the left-field wall. Michigan once again proved its ability to bounce back while O’Halloran dealt on the mound in the form of another quick inning to keep the game tied at three.

“We’re never out of the fight,” Burton said. “We’ve come back from deficits all the time, and just our mentality, I love it.”

But in the seventh inning, the Cowboys struck again. Outfielder Zach Erhard blasted an RBI double off the left-field wall before he scored to give Oklahoma State a 5-3 lead, pulling O’Halloran out of the game in the process. Michigan once again found itself falling behind, and this time it was unable to stay afloat after its offense began to go cold — a problem that has plagued the Wolverines all season.

In Saturday’s game, Michigan proved Smith’s affirmations in his team’s capabilities correct. With someone like O’Halloran on the mound paired with an offense playing up to standard, the Wolverines truly can compete with anyone in the country. 

But when one aspect of its game struggles, so does Michigan as a whole. That’s exactly what happened on offense in Saturday’s late innings — and against a ranked team like Oklahoma State, that spelled disaster.

The post Michigan loses to No. 24 Oklahoma State in back-and-forth affair appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

It’s not often that a team finds its X factor midseason.

But for the Michigan baseball team, that X factor has always been apparent, simply dormant: senior designated hitter Jimmy Obertop.

After an elbow injury in the fall, Obertop missed over half the season in order to recover. But just in time for three of the biggest games of the season against rival Michigan State, Obertop made his long-awaited return, something the entire Wolverines roster needed.

“(Obertop) just makes our lineup different,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “That’s probably the best way to put it. And to have those at-bats with a veteran hitter (and) proven hitter and one of the best players in the conference the last couple years, who wouldn’t want that?”

And in his past seasons — particularly 2022 — Obertop’s importance to the Wolverines is irreplaceable. In his junior season, Obertop batted .278 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs. He leads all returning Michigan players on the 2023 roster in all three respective categories, as well. In addition, Obertop started all 62 games in 2022. 

With Obertop’s return, the Wolverines are getting back an everyday starter that provides the batting lineup an abundance of depth and flexibility. And with proven veterans shifting in and out of the lineup as Smith sees fit, his consistency is every needed. Clearly, Obertop has been a monumental part of Michigan’s plans in past seasons, and he will continue to be as a senior.

But while on the mend, Smith had other plans for Obertop: A role as first base coach. Even while he wasn’t healthy enough to play, Obertop continued to contribute to the game while making an impact on his teammates. Unsurprisingly, this new role for Obertop paid off for both parties.

“His role has been our coach,” Smith said. “That was one of the things we made clear early on that he’s (a part of this team), we want him to feel a part and be a part of it … so he has been coaching for us. … And I told him, being on the other side of (the game) standing and watching is going to help you as a player too. … So he’s always been around contributing to wins.”

After spending time on the first base line, Obertop gained more experience to improve his own game, crediting his development to what he saw in the batter’s box from a different viewpoint than he was once accustomed to.

And ahead of his first game of the season, Obertop felt more prepared than ever.

“I was pretty even-keeled because I’ve been watching from first and it’s slowed the game down a lot,” Obertop said. “You see what works for guys, especially the righties where I got a good view from first. So I’m just seeing their takes …  (and learning) reads on the bases. It’s helped me a lot.”

As Obertop continues to shake off the rust, positive results should come for the Wolverines on the record board. This weekend’s series against No. 24 Oklahoma State is just one of many opportunities for Obertop — and Michigan — to showcase their newfound strengths.

The post Jimmy Obertop’s return and contributions vital to Michigan’s success appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

Another chapter in the same story has been written for the Michigan baseball team.

Once again, junior right-hander Connor O’Halloran played a crucial role in victory for the Wolverines. But for the first time all season, he did so in a complete-game outing. 

O’Halloran put together nine innings of efficiency on the mound en route to Saturday’s 8-3 victory over Michigan State. Following his arm, Michigan clinched its third Big Ten series win of the season and a bounceback performance in conference play after losing two straight series to Rutgers and Nebraska.

And for the Wolverines, O’Halloran’s performance does much more than simply earn a win.

“(O’Halloran’s performance) does a lot of things,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “One: It gets us the win. Two: It saves the bullpen. We’ve seen this Sunday stuff, so it’s one of those things … that was a gutty performance and in my mind, he was the key (to victory).”

By saving the bullpen after only using O’Halloran on Saturday, the Wolverines have a big opportunity to go for a series sweep on Sunday with rested relievers. And with the Big Ten standings becoming narrower as the season barrels toward its finish, every win counts.

On Saturday, O’Halloran threw 115 pitches, allowing only seven hits in the process. He also accumulated five strikeouts and two walks. Once again, he refused to give free bases to his opponent, something Smith has emphasized to his entire roster as a clear path to victory.

“Recognizing that every 90 feet matter (is important),” Smith told The Michigan Daily Apr. 9. “Make guys beat you, don’t give them the free passes.”

And in doing so, O’Halloran impacted more than just the Wolverines’ defense.

Not only is he a stalwart on the defensive end, but his performance stretched to all impacts of Michigan’s game plan — including its play at the plate. By backing its bats up, O’Halloran created opportunities for the Wolverines’ offense to shine without the pressure of being behind on the scoreboard in the back of their minds.

“(Connor) sets the tone every time he gets out there,” senior second baseman Ted Burton said. “I feel comfortable in the box when I’m hitting because I know that he’s going to do his job and I’m going to do mine. And I know that the rest of the guys feel the same way.”

And with O’Halloran on the mound, the Wolverines were able to create big innings. In both the first and sixth innings, Michigan scored seven of its eight runs to comfortably put the game out of reach for the Spartans. 

Due to O’Halloran’s presence, the Wolverines’ offense was at ease. Even when the bats sputtered in the middle innings, O’Halloran kept the Wolverines afloat — putting them in the position to win through his strong play and contagious energy.

With O’Halloran on the mound, it looks like the sky’s the limit for Michigan’s conference hopes. And with an improved offense from February playing behind him, the Wolverines will likely be a tough out for other Big Ten contenders.

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Responding to its opponents on the scoreboard is integral to the success of the Michigan baseball team. And on Wednesday, the Wolverines showcased that early before losing touch with their strategy, ultimately resulting in a second-straight loss.

Michigan (19-17 overall) fell to Toledo (16-20), 10-7, after blowing a five-run lead in the middle innings and proving unable to counter the Rockets’ offensive explosion.

And Toledo’s impressive offensive performance was immediate.

After a lead-off walk and a subsequent single by catcher Brayden White, the Rockets had a runner in scoring position with no outs in the second inning. Two at-bats later, left fielder Trey Wright hit a sacrifice fly to right field, establishing a 1-0 lead for Toledo.

However, Michigan responded quickly. Freshman third baseman Mitch Voit sent a two-run home run over the right field wall, giving the Wolverines a 2-1 lead. And Michigan took complete control following a grand slam in the third inning off the bat of senior right fielder Joey Velazquez, blossoming the lead to five. 

When Toledo challenged the Wolverines, it showcased their ability to rise to the occasion quickly. In doing so, Michigan dictated the game early.

The Wolverines retained that control thanks to their efforts on the defensive end, continuing Barr’s trend set from his opening pitch. Much of their defensive dominance came from junior right-hander Ryan Zimmer, who retired the side consecutively after entering in relief for Barr in the third inning, while also putting together a scoreless outing in the fourth inning.

“Every time he goes out, he continues to improve,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “We need a couple of guys to step up and I would say he falls into that category.”

But in the fifth and sixth innings, Michigan’s grip on the game loosened. Toledo added a run off of a bunt to shrink the lead to four before a double from center fielder Caden Konczak scored another run for the Rockets. A three-run sixth inning tied the game at six, and the momentum the Wolverines once had was suddenly flipped on its head. Right when Michigan was getting comfortable, Toledo made its presence felt. And the Wolverines paid for it, suddenly becoming overwhelmed by a swarming Rocket offense.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for (Toledo) to come to Michigan and play,” Smith said. “They’re not going to give (a win) to you.”

A two-out rally in the seventh inning contributed more trouble for Michigan, with the Rockets increasing their lead to three. Eventually, the Wolverines found themselves down multiple runs and unable to combat their deficit, spelling their first midweek loss since March 21.

“Losing baseball has a formula,” Smith said. “The formula generally starts if you don’t pitch well, and you don’t make good pitches that contributes to losing. If you don’t have good at-bats that contributes to losing (and) if you don’t make plays defensively that contributes to losing. And tonight we had a lot of mistakes. … We did enough things wrong today to get the result that we deserved.”

Michigan’s ability to respond proved to be the story of the afternoon. When they countered Toledo’s attacks, the Wolverines looked as dangerous as ever. But when they took their foot off the gas, disaster struck.

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