Nwogu, Criswell Propel Michigan to Series Win over Bowling Green

Saturday, March 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

6-11

Bowling Green

3-15

Bowling Green

Michigan

Nwogu, Criswell Propel Michigan to Series Win over Bowling Green

3/17/2018 8:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Michigan took a defining lead in the third, but added runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings.
» Jordan Nwogu blasted his first career home run and Matthew Schmidt picked up his first career double.
» Jeff Criswell tossed a career-high five innings of relief to earn the win.
» With victories on Friday (March 16) and Saturday (March 17) Michigan earned its second series win and will look to collect its first series sweep on Sunday (March 18).

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 10, Bowling Green 7
Records: U-M (6-11), BGSU (3-15)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 18 -- vs. Bowling Green (Wilpon Complex), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A two-run home run by freshman Jordan Nwogu in the eighth and a career-high five innings of relief from freshman Jeff Criswell gave the University of Michigan baseball team the momentum it needed on Saturday (March 17) to earn a 10-7 victory and series win over Bowling Green at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Karl Kauffmann started on the mound for Michigan, but threw just two innings before leaving the game due to injury.

Freshman Jeff Criswell replaced Kauffmann in the top of the third inning and allowed two runs on one hit and four walks over a career-high five innings of relief work. The righty also fanned a career-high five.

Prior to his departure, Kauffmann held the Falcons scoreless through two innings and surrendered just two hits and a walk. The righty allowed two runs and struck out a career-high five to earn his first career win.

Following two scoreless innings to start the game, the Wolverines rallied for four runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Junior Ako Thomas led off the at-bat with a full-count walk and later took second on a balk, then stole third. Thomas scored on a single off the bat of junior Jonathan Engelmann for a 1-0 lead. An two-out intentional walk to redshirt-junior Miles Lewis kept Michigan alive, and a single up the middle by junior Blake Nelson scored Engelmann for a two-run Michigan edge. Freshman Jordan Nwogu was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and it was redshirt-freshman Harrison Salter who roped a single down the third-base line to score Lewis and put the Wolverines up, 3-0. With the bases still loaded, freshman Jack Blomgren kept the rally going with a base hit up the middle that scored Nelson for a four-run lead.

Michigan used smart base-running to extend its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Engelmann was hit by a pitch with one out to get things started, and a walk to junior Matthew Schmidt gave the Wolverines two runners on base. A long fly out allowed Engelmann to tag-up and take third. With runners on the corners, Michigan executed a double-steal that resulted in Schmidt sliding safely into second and Engelmann taking home on the throw.

Bowling Green responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to cut Michigan's lead to 5-2, but the Wolverines gained momentum in the bottom of the frame to increase their lead to 8-2 an unearned run and a two-run single by Nwogu.

Bowling Green answered in the eighth as it rallied for three unearned runs on two errors and two hits, but Michigan added two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer by Nwogu.

The Falcons plated two runs in the top of the ninth thanks to a pair walks and a hit batter, but two strikeouts and a groundout ended the game with Michigan on top, 10-7.

The Maize and Blue totaled 11 hits and seven walks and on the afternoon. Nwogo's homer in the eighth marked the first of his career, while Schmidt picked up the first double and stolen base of his career.

Though just two Wolverine pitchers combined to throw the first seven innings, Michigan sent four pitchers to the mound over the eighth and ninth innings. Jack Bredeson, Angelo Smith, Benjamin Keizer and Troy Miller appeared in late relief, and though five runs scored over that span, just one was earned.

Michigan pitchers struck out 11 batters in the effort and surrendered just three earned runs and scattered five hits.

Tweet of the Game

ICYMI... Nwogu's first career homer! #goblue pic.twitter.com/MqHiLgRAR5
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 17, 2018

Michigan and Bowling Green will wrap up the weekend with the series finale on Sunday (March 18), with first-pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]