Michigan Shuts Out Lipscomb to Complete Series Sweep

Sunday, March 12

Nashville, Tenn.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

12-3

Lipscomb

8-7

Michigan

Lipscomb

3/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 12, 2017

• Box Score

» Senior Michael Brdar recorded a career-high four hits in the victory, smacking three singles and a solo homer to record a team-high two runs batted in.
» Junior Michael Hendrickson picked up his first win of the season, tossing five innings and surrendering just two hits with a season-high six strikeouts.
» The shutout is Michigan's first since a 1-0 win at Illinois on May 19, 2016.

Site: Nashville, Tenn. (Ken Dugan Field)
Score: Michigan 5, Lipscomb 0
Records: U-M (12-3), LU (8-7)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 17 -- vs. Northern Illinois (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Timely hitting and a tremendous pitching performance pushed the No. 24-ranked University of Michigan baseball team to a 5-0 win over the Lipscomb Bisons on Sunday (March 12) en route to the three-game series sweep. The shutout victory is Michigan's first of the season.

The Wolverines got on the board first, plating two runs in the top of the first inning for an early lead. Sophomore Ako Thomas led things off once again, sending a 1-0 pitch up the middle to give the Wolverines a base runner. Thomas then took second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout before an RBI groundout off the bat of sophomore Miles Lewis allowed him to score. With two outs, senior Harrison Wenson followed with a solo homer over the leftfield fence, putting the Wolverines up 2-0.

The Wolverines added another run in the top of the second, going up 3-0. Senior Michael Brdar jumpstarted the inning with a single up the middle and moved up two bases on the groundouts that followed. With Brdar on third and two down, senior Johnny Slater came up clutch with an RBI single through the right side, giving the Wolverines a three-run lead.

After two scoreless innings, the Wolverines got back on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Lewis got things going with a leadoff single, and a sacrifice bunt from junior Drew Lugbauer moved him up one bag. Lewis then stole third, and Brdar sent a single up the middle for the RBI and a 4-0 Michigan lead.

A solo homer off the bat of Brdar added an insurance run in the top of the eighth.

Backed by a productive offense, junior Michael Hendrickson earned the win for the Wolverines to improve to 1-0 on the season. The lefty tossed five complete innings, allowing no runs on just two hits. He struck out a season-high six in the effort, tying his career high.

In the bottom of the sixth, junior righty Jayce Vancena took the mound for the Maize and Blue in relief. He threw two complete innings and allowed no hits with two strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth, freshman Karl Kauffmann made his career debut for the Wolverines on the mound, throwing just eight pitches and retiring the side. Junior righty Alec Rennard closed out the game for Michigan, shutting down Lipscomb in order in the ninth.

Overall, Michigan recorded nine hits and walked three times with four stolen bases.

In addition to a career-high four hits from Brdar, Thomas also had a multi-hit outing with two singles and extended his reached-base streak to 15 straight games.

Tweet of the Day

HAVE A DAY Michael Brdar! He's now 4-4 with a solo homer!

T8 | Michigan leads 5-0. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/CcI8Z14n6n

-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 12, 2017

The Wolverines will return to action on Friday (March 17) in their home opener. First pitch against the visiting Northern Illinois Huskies is set for 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt