No. 22 U-M Shuts Out Toledo to Open Homestand

Tuesday, March 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

18-6

Toledo

5-19

Toledo

Michigan

3/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 28, 2017

» Drew Lugbauer and Jake Bivens each tallied three hits in a 12-0 victory over Toledo.
» Jayce Vancena brought his season record to 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA after five scoreless innings.
» Michigan was walked 10 times and recorded no errors in the field.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #22 Michigan 12, Toledo 0
Records: U-M (18-6, 1-2 B1G), Toledo (5-19, 0-3 MAC)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, March 29 -- vs. Central Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 4:00 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan baseball team used three scoring innings to shut out Toledo by a 12-0 score on Tuesday (March 28) in a non-conference game to open an 18-game homestand at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The victory is Michigan's second shutout win of the season and gives the Wolverines their second straight victory.

Michigan got on the board in the second inning after a bases-loaded walk to sophomore Ako Thomas sent home a run. Junior Jake Bivens led off the rally with a single up the middle, and back-to-back walks to sophomores Jimmy Kerr and Jonathan Engelmann loaded the bases, before a walk to Thomas gave Michigan a 1-0 lead. One out later, senior Michael Brdar drove in two runs on a two-out, bases-loaded single to center field to put the Wolverines up by three. Junior Drew Lugbauer extended the inning with a base hit down the right-field line to score Thomas, propelling Michigan's lead to 4-0.

Backed by a strong offensive showing, junior Jayce Vancena pitched five scoreless innings, earning a win to bring his season record to 3-0. Vancena walked none and set a new career high with five strikeouts.

Despite the four-run cushion, the Wolverines rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning for five more runs to force a 9-0 deficit. Bivens began the inning with a leadoff double off the right-centerfield wall, and consecutive walks to sophomore Nick Poirier and Engelmann loaded the bases with one out. A base hit from Thomas followed to drive in Bivens, and senior Johnny Slater followed with a bases-loaded single to right center field to drive in two, extending Michigan's lead to seven. Brdar's sac fly scored another run, before Lugbauer hit an RBI double down the right-field line, giving the Wolverines a nine-run lead.

Up 9-0, freshman Karl Kauffmann came in from the bullpen in the sixth inning and struck out the side. He returned to the mound in the seventh and added a fourth strikeout, setting a career high. Kauffmann was in total control in relief, throwing 25 strikes on 33 pitches.

Michigan added another three runs in the sixth, as junior Brock Keener drove in a run on a base hit to right field, and Slater added his third RBI of the game on a bases-loaded outfield single. The scoring ended as a walk to Lugbauer brought home a run, extending Michigan's lead to 12-0.

The rest of the game was scoreless for both teams as junior/sophomore Grant Reuss and sophomore Jack Bredeson each pitched an inning to close out Michigan's dominant win.

Overall, Michigan tallied 15 hits on the day, with Lugbauer and Bivens each recording three hits. The Wolverines were walked 10 times and did not record any errors in the field.

Tweet of the Day

Ballgame! A big team effort as Michigan picks up a win to kick off an 18-game home stand! pic.twitter.com/AN8fm27TcH

-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 28, 2017

The No. 22-ranked Wolverines will get back in action on Wednesday (March 29) when they host Central Michigan in midweek non-conference play. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt