Michigan Tosses One-Hitter in Rout of Illinois

Saturday, April 8

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

25-6, 0

Illinois

10-18, 0

Illinois

Michigan

4/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 8, 2017

» The Michigan pitching staff allowed just one hit for the first time since a 4-2 win over IPFW in 2012.
» Ako Thomas recorded a career-high four hits in a four-for-five outing with two stolen bases.
» The Wolverines have now won nine straight, including eight straight at home.
» Michigan is now 12-0 this season when leading after the first inning.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #18 Michigan 7, Illinois 0
Records: U-M (25-6, 6-2 B1G), ILL (10-18, 0-5 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 9 -- vs. Illinois (Wilpon Complex), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Backed by a seven-run cushion, three Wolverine pitchers combined to toss a one-hitter on Saturday (April 8) as the No. 18-ranked University of Michigan baseball team picked up a 7-0 win over Illinois at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The win extends Michigan's win streak to nine straight, including eight straight wins at home. The Wolverines are also now 12-0 when leading after the first inning, and Saturday's victory marks Michigan's third shutout win of the season.

Junior RHP Ryan Nutof earned the win for the Wolverines in the effort, improving to 3-1 on the season. The righty allowed just one hit through six innings and struck out two.

Junior Jayce Vancena and sophomore Jack Bredeson came out of the bullpen to close out the game. The pair struck out one batter apiece and allowed no runs on no hits to keep the one-hitter alive.

Prior to Saturday's victory, the Wolverine pitching staff had not tossed a one-hit win since March 24, 2012, when Michigan defeated IPFW in a 4-2 decision.

After falling behind early on Friday (April 7), the Wolverines jumped on the board quickly in Saturday's contest, plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Ako Thomas got things going with a leadoff single to left field and quickly stole second to get into scoring position. Senior Johnny Slater followed with a base hit up the middle, but Thomas was thrown out at the plate trying to score. After Slater took second on a wild pitch, senior Michael Brdar singled through the left side to give Michigan runners on the corners, and junior Drew Lugbauer drew the walk to load the bases with just one out. It was sophomore Miles Lewis who came up clutch, driving an 0-1 pitch down the left-field line to score Slater and Brdar. With runners on the corners, junior Jake Bivens grounded out to the right side to score Lugbauer and put the Wolverines up 3-0.

Michigan added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, rallying for three hits with two outs. Thomas again got things going with a single through the left side, and Slater followed with an outfield single to push Thomas to third. A walk to Brdar then loaded the bases once more, and Lugbauer answered the call with a two-RBI single to centerfield to give Michigan a 5-0 lead.

Still holding Illinois scoreless, the Wolverines tacked on another run in the sixth on an RBI single from Slater for a 6-0 lead. Two innings later, the Maize and Blue extended its lead to seven as a base hit from Thomas scored sophomore Jonathan Engelmann.

Overall, Michigan tallied 14 hits on the day, including a career-high four from Thomas, three from Slater and two each from Lugbauer and Bivens. With a base hit in the first inning, Brdar extended his hitting streak to 17 games, and Thomas extended his on-base streak to 31 games while also stealing two bases.

Tweet of the Day

One-hitter ✔️
Nine straight wins ✔️
Third shutout of the season ✔️
Clinch the series ✔️#fighters #goblue pic.twitter.com/t6hLzFrpef

-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) April 8, 2017

No. 18-ranked Michigan will wrap up the series with Illinois on Sunday (April 9). The series finale is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, and fans can watch the game live on BTN Plus. [ Tickets ]