Big First Inning Propels Wolverines to Victory Over Northwestern

Saturday, April 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

23-15, 9-8

Northwestern

14-20-1, 5-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northwestern	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	11	2
Michigan	5	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	X	8	7	0

Shane Brinham (Michigan Photography)

Big First Inning Propels Wolverines to Victory Over Northwestern

4/18/2026 6:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan took down Northwestern 8-3, scoring five runs in the first inning.
» Shane Brinham struck out nine over five innings, while allowing one run on five hits.
» Joonsung Park went 2-for-3 with two doubles, one run and three RBI.
» Colby Turner extended his hitting streak to 18 games and his run-scoring streak to 15 games.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Using a five-run first inning, the University of Michigan baseball team defeated Northwestern 8-3 on Saturday afternoon (April 18) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium, to clinch a series win.

Michigan (23-15, 9-8 Big Ten) sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring five runs on three hits and one error. Colby Turner opened the frame with a single, and walks from Noah Miller and Cade Ladehoff loaded the bases. Brenden Stressler brought home Turner with a sacrifice fly and Joonsung Park doubled to clear the bases and put the Wolverines up 3-0. Greg Pace Jr. extended the inning, reaching on an error as Josh Campbell capped off the inning with a double to score Park and Pace for a 5-0 lead.

Northwestern (14-20-1, 5-12 Big Ten) struggled offensively over the first five by Shane Brinham (4-3). The freshman starter struck out the first five batters and six of his first seven to keep the Wildcats off the board over the first two innings. Northwestern got a run in the third, but Brinham retired three straight to end the inning. Brinham allowed a hit in each of his final two frames to keep the score at 5-1.

The Wolverines extended their lead in the fifth with a two-out walk from Ladehoff. A dropped fly ball in left to score Ladehoff. Park doubled for the second time in as many at-bats to push Stressler home and take a 7-1 lead.

Wyatt Novara took over on the mound in the sixth and struck out the first two batters he faced in a scoreless sixth. He returned in the seventh and retired two of the three batters in the inning before being relieved by Brandon Mann, who struck out his first batter in the frame to end the inning.

U-M added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, when Ladehoff drew his third walk of the game. Cooper Mullens pinch hit after a Wildcats pitching change and brought home pinch runner Dane Morrow.

The Wildcats got a run back in the eighth and ninth, but Mann and Michael Quedens prevented further damage to secure the Saturday afternoon win and the series victory.

The Wolverines fanned 14 Wildcats, allowing them just one walk and three runs. Brinham ended the day with nine strikeouts and one run allowed on five hits. Novara struck out three and did not allow a run over his 1.2 innings of work, while Mann and Quedens combined for two strikeouts over their 1.1 innings.

Park paced the Wolverines offense with two doubles, three RBI and a run, while Turner added two hits and a run to keep his hitting and run streaks alive. Ladehoff scored twice in the contest while Campbell brought home two runners.

The Wolverines will wrap up the series against Northwestern on Sunday (April 19) at 11 a.m. at Ray Fisher Stadium, with the contest being broadcast live on Big Ten Network.