Offensive Surge Propels Michigan Past Oklahoma

Friday, April 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

28-7

Oklahoma

27-11

Oklahoma

Michigan

4/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 14, 2017

» Led by starter Ryan Nutof (4-1), the Wolverine pitching staff surrendered just five hits while striking out 10.
» Michigan totaled a season-high 17 hits in the contest, including six for extra bases.
» Drew Lugbauer and Johnny Slater each recorded a home run in the contest and combined for six RBI.
» The Wolverines are now 14-0 when leading after the first inning.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #13 Michigan 14, #18 Oklahoma 4
Records: U-M (28-7), Okla (27-11)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 15 -- vs. Oklahoma (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan baseball team used four scoring innings and a season-high 17 hits to defeat Oklahoma by a score of 14-4 and clinch the weekend series on Friday (April 14) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The victory brings Michigan's home record to 15-2 on the season and marks the Wolverines' third straight win. The Maize and Blue is also now 14-0 when leading after the first inning.

Oklahoma got on the board first in the top of the first inning, rallying with two outs to score three runs on three hits.

Michigan responded in a big way, however, plating four runs in the inning's bottom half. After a single and two fielder's choice plays left a man on with two outs on the board, junior Drew Lugbauer jumpstarted a rally with a single to right field that allowed senior Michael Brdar to take third. With runners on the corners, sophomore Miles Lewis sent the first pitch of his at-bat to right-center field and scored Brdar for Michigan's first run of the game. Junior Jake Bivens then sent an RBI single up the middle that allowed Lugbauer to score and Lewis to take third, and sophomore Nick Poirier followed with a base hit down the right-field line that cleared the bases for a 4-3 Michigan lead.

Michigan added four more runs in the second inning, extending its lead to 8-3. A single from Brdar drove in seniors Harrison Wenson and Johnny Slater for the first two runs of the inning, and a ground-rule double by Lugbauer pushed Brdar across the plate for a four-run lead. With Lugbauer still on base, the scoring ended as Bivens ripped a double down the right-field line to put the Wolverines up by five.

Despite a large lead, the Maize and Blue rallied for four hits and four more runs in the bottom of the third to go up 12-3. With two outs on the board, sophomore Ako Thomas started yet another rally with a base hit through the left side, and Slater followed with one of his own to put two men on base. An RBI double from Brdar then scored Thomas and allowed Slater to take third, but a three-run shot to straight away center-field off the bat of Lugbauer cleared the bases with the Wolverines up by nine.

Following the first scoreless inning of the day in the fourth, Michigan got back to scoring in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer by Slater. Though the Sooners strung together a one-run eighth inning, Michigan took home the 14-4 victory to clinch the series.

Junior Ryan Nutof pitched six innings, giving up four hits and recording six strikeouts in the effort. Following a long first inning, the righty faced just one batter over the minimum through the next five outings and earned the win to improve to 4-1 on the season.

Following Nutof's departure, senior Keith Lehmann, sophomore Troy Miller and junior/sophomore Grant Reuss came out of Michigan's bullpen and gave up just one run on one hit over the final three innings of the day. The trio combined for four strikeouts and surrendered just one walk.

Overall, Michigan tallied six extra base hits on the day and recorded a season-high 17 hits as a team. Thomas, Lugbauer and Bivens each recorded three hits in the effort, while Slater and Brdar picked up two apiece. With a single in the bottom of the first, Thomas extended his reached-base streak to 35 games.

Tweet of the Day

B3 | Lugbauer with the #LugBomb! This two-out, three-run homer puts us up 12-3 in the third inning! #GoBlue https://t.co/pH4gHplOH0

-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) April 14, 2017

The No. 13-ranked Wolverines will get back in action on Saturday (April 15) when they host No. 18 Oklahoma in the final game of the non-conference series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt