Michigan baseball takes conference opener after eight run inning

ANN ARBOR, MI — Big 10 baseball is officially back for the Wolverines. This Friday, Michigan baseball hosted the Penn State Nittany Lions for the first of three games scheduled for this weekend. The Wolverine bats came alive in the fourth inning as Michigan baseball plated eight runners and batted around the order.

Michigan baseball continued to add runs to their lead and finished with a 13-4 victory over the Nittany Lions. Starting pitcher Connor O’Halloran pitched eight innings for the maize and blue, striking out seven and allowing four earned runs.

While O’Halloran’s pitching was dominant, Michigan’s hitting was the star of the show in their victory. Here’s a breakdown of the Wolverine’s electrifying eight-run fourth inning.

Velazquez Leadoff Homer

Michigan baseball entered the inning trailing 2-1 to Penn State. Leading off the inning was senior outfielder Joey Velazquez. After a breakout season last year, Velazquez has been relatively quiet at the plate. Velazquez entered the game batting .188 after 48 at-bats for the 2023 campaign.

After building a 3-2 count in a tight at bat, Velazquez sent a line drive over the right field wall for his first home run of the 2023 season. The score was now even at two a piece.

Velazquez’ homer tied the game, but more importantly, it built momentum. Michigan baseball was ready to rally.

Playing ‘Small Ball’

Next up after Velazquez was the switch-hitting senior Jake Marti. Marti kept the inning alive with a first-pitch infield single down the third base line. While it’s certainly less flashy than a home run, the hit kept the momentum alive and put a baserunner on with no outs.

Michigan catcher Gabe Sotres was hit by a pitch in the following at-bat, now putting two men on with still nobody out. With these runners on base, Michigan baseball decided to play classic small ball and bunt. Freshman Mitch Voit showed bunt on the first pitch, and despite the infield playing in, Voit placed the bunt perfectly to the left of the pitcher’s mound and beat the throw to first for another infield single.

The bases were now loaded with no outs for freshman outfielder Jonathan Kim. Kim, who’s been fighting for a starting spot in the outfield in the past few weeks, took full advantage of the opportunity before him and blooped a single into left, plating a run and advancing each runner exactly one base.

Now back at the top of the order, graduate transfer Cody Jefferis drew an RBI walk, increasing the Wolverines’ lead to 4-2 with still no outs and bases loaded. Penn State made a pitching change as they prepared to face the heart of the Wolverine lineup.

The Big Bats

At the most powerful part of the batting order, Michigan baseball continued to plate runners. Senior outfielder Tito Flores was the first out in the rally after hitting a deep sac fly to center field which plated the Wolverines’ fourth run of the inning.

This was immediately followed by a first-pitch double from Michigan’s three-spot hitter Ted Burton. The double scored a run and advanced the speedy Cody Jefferis to third base. A wild pitch on the next at-bat brought Jefferis home from third on a close play.

Michigan’s cleanup hitter Joe Longo hit the second home run of the inning, this one a two-run homer over the left field wall. This gave Michigan baseball a 9-2 lead after entering the inning trailing by one.

The Wolverines had officially batted around the order as Joey Velazquez stepped into the box for the second time that inning. Both Velazquez and Marti would ground out in their next at-bats, ending Michigan’s rally. The Wolverines finished the inning with six hits, eight runs, and no one left on base.

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