Stolen Bases Propel Michigan to Sweep of Purdue

Sunday, May 14

West Lafayette, Ind.

3:00 PM

Michigan

39-12, 14-7

Purdue

26-24, 10-11

Michigan

Purdue

5/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 14, 2017

» Starter Michael Hendrickson tied his career high with six innings pitched and improved to 6-2 with the victory.
» Miles Lewis stole a career-high three bases in the effort, including home plate in the top of the second inning for the eventual game-winner.
» The three-game sweep is Michigan's fourth of the season.
» Michigan now has 39 wins through the regular season for the first time since 2008, when the Wolverines captured their 35th Big Ten regular-season title.

• Box Score

Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Alexander Field)
Score: #16 Michigan 5, Purdue 1
Records: U-M (39-12, 14-7 B1G), PUR (26-24, 10-11 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, May 16 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 6 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan baseball team used three scoring innings and heads-up base running to execute the series sweep of Purdue on Sunday (May 14), as the Wolverines defeated the Boilermakers by a 5-1 score at Alexander Field.

The three-game sweep is Michigan's fourth of the season, and the victory marks the first time since 2008 that Michigan has recorded 39 regular season wins. The 2008 season also marked Michigan's most-recent Big Ten Conference regular season title.

After a scoreless first, Michigan got on the scoreboard quickly in the top of the second inning by taking advantage of two Purdue errors. Junior Drew Lugbauer led off the at-bat for Michigan by reaching on a Boilermaker throwing error that allowed him to take second base. Lugbauer then took third on a passed ball, and a walk to sophomore Miles Lewis gave Michigan runners on the corners with no outs. From there, sophomore Nick Poirier sent the first pitch of his at-bat up the middle for an RBI single to score Lugbauer and give Michigan men on first and second. One out later, a fielder's choice resulted in the out at second base but gave Michigan runners on the corners with two away. The Wolverines then executed a double-steal attempt that resulted in another Purdue throwing error and allowed Lewis to score easily for a 2-0 Michigan lead.

Neither team scored again until the top of the seventh, when Michigan plated two runs on two hits and three walks. Lugbauer again led off the inning, this time reaching on a leadoff single to right field. One out later, Poirier ripped a single through the right side, and Lugbauer went first to third, which gave Michigan runners on the corners. A walk to sophomore Jimmy Kerr then loaded the bases, and freshman Joe Pace came in to pitch hit, drawing the RBI walk. With one out and the bases still loaded, senior Harrison Wenson followed with an RBI walk to put Michigan up 4-0, before a failed suicide squeeze attempt and a groundout ended the inning.

Michigan starting pitcher Michael Hendrickson tossed six complete innings of scoreless ball on Sunday in the victory. The junior lefty walked just one and surrendered seven hits with seven strikeouts before leaving the game in the bottom of the seventh.

After a leadoff double gave Purdue a runner in scoring position to start the seventh, senior righty Mac Lozer was called out of the bullpen. Lozer faced just three batters in the inning, as a fly-out and back-to-back strikeouts sent Michigan back to the dugout.

Michigan added a run in the top of the eighth to go up, 5-0. Senior Michael Brdar drew a walk to jumpstart the inning and took second on a wild pitch to give Michigan a runner in scoring position with one out. Lewis then singled up the middle, and Brdar scored from second, putting Michigan up by five.

Lozer returned to the mound to toss a scoreless eighth inning, allowing two hits, before Bivens ran down a popup in foul territory to end the inning.

After a scoreless top of the ninth, freshman reliever Karl Kauffmann and senior Jackson Lamb combined to close out the bottom of the ninth for Michigan on the mound and allowed Purdue's only run.

Despite the late offense by the Boilermakers, the Wolverines took home the 5-1 victory en route to Michigan's fourth series sweep of the season.

Overall, the Wolverines recorded six hits in the effort, with Poirier totaling a team-high two. Lewis stole a career-high three bases in the effort, and Lugbauer led the team with two runs scored.

Tweet of the Day

Series sweep ☑️#GoBlue #Team151 pic.twitter.com/EszTcM36AO

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

The No. 16-ranked Wolverines will return to action on Tuesday (May 16) when they face off against Eastern Michigan in their final non-conference game of the regular season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt