ANN ARBOR, MI – With conference play returning to action, Big10 baseball teams with lackluster nonconference records get a chance to “reset” their season’s trajectory. Michigan baseball started the season just 9-11 through nonconference play. However, this weekend the Wolverines started their conference schedule with a three-game series sweep over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Michigan baseball now boasts an overall record of 12-11 and an undefeated conference record of 3-0.

The Wolverines outscored the Nittany Lions 28-8 in the three games combined. Penn State entered the weekend with a 12-5 overall record and a 1-4 record against ranked opponents. The Nittany Lions end the weekend last in the Big10 standings after their 0-3 conference start.

While still very early in the season, the Wolverines sit tied for first in the Big10 standings. Here are a few takeaways from the Wolverines series sweep.

Michigan Bats Get Hot

After a slow start to the year offensively, the Michigan lineup is starting to come alive again. The Wolverines amassed 33 hits and drove in 28 runs in their best offensive production of the season.

Entering the weekend series against the Nittany Lions, Michigan baseball averaged just 4.4 runs per game. Multiple returning veterans in the Wolverine lineup have been unable to match their productivity from last year. With Michigan bats slumping, they relied heavily on dominant pitching to keep games close.

This weekend however, the Wolverines averaged 9.3 runs per game, scoring 13 runs on Friday, 12 runs on Saturday, and 3 runs on Sunday.

Senior pitcher Noah Rennard talked about how conference play can be a “reset” for certain players. “I think it offered a lot of guys kind of a fresh start,” said Rennard, adding “Our season was what it was in the preseason. We had some good games, we had some bad games. I think once Big10 play rolls around, a lot of guys mentally can have that reset.”

Rennard Makes First Start

Noah Rennard has been a dominant bullpen arm for the Wolverines who lack pitching depth in the late innings. So far this season, Rennard holds an earned run average of 2.63 and an opposing batting average of .188. Before this weekend, all of Rennard’s innings pitched had come from late relief appearances.

However, this Sunday, Rennard took the mound for his first start of the 2023 season and pitched 5.2 innings while giving up only one earned run. Michigan baseball has struggled to find the “third man” in their rotation, with Connor O’Halloran and Chase Allen being their only consistent starters so far.

Rennard may be the final piece to Michigan’s rotation as conference play continues. Michigan baseball head coach Tracy Smith said, “We’re trying to find that six to eight guys that are going to be the core nucleus of the leverage innings”. He added, “We’re getting closer on that… Every one of those [bullpen] guys can step up and continue to develop.”

Every Game Counts

“They all matter”, said coach Smith when asked about the impact of a series sweep. “Every game matters whether it’s the first weekend or the last weekend”.

Michigan baseball will play 24 conference games this season before Big10 tournament seeding is established. Last season, Michigan made the tournament as the fifth seed after going 12-12 in conference play. With a 3-0 conference start, the Wolverines will look to build on their performance from last season and finish even higher in the standings.

Coach Smith also emphasized how the Wolverines will remain competitive in the rest of their nonconference games throughout the season. “I hate the mentality of throwing away games in the middle of the week so that we win on the weekend”, said coach Smith. “Our mentality is that we want to win every single game one at a time.”

The Wolverines return to action in Ann Arbor this Tuesday against the Central Michigan Chippewas at 4 PM ET.

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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.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

Seven months ago, head coach Mel Pearson was fired from the Michigan hockey team. The University of Michigan athletic department and athletic director Warde Manuel made this decision after a lengthy investigation of the hockey program. The investigation discovered an incredibly toxic culture throughout the team; that toxicity involved Coach Pearson. Also, there was an investigation on Mel Pearson regarding the potential harassment of female staff members. Since then, Michigan has hired a new head coach: Brandon Naurato.

Michigan hockey made the correct decision on firing head coach Mel Pearson, but the real question was, who would fill that spot? Mel Pearson took an incredibly talented team to be Big Ten Champions and a Frozen Four playoff run.

Michigan had to not only find someone who could take this team on another playoff run and have a good relationship with the players and recruits. This brought them to the decision of naming assistant Coach Brandon Naurato as “interim head coach.”

Brandon Naurato as Interim Head Coach

In the off-season after the 2021-2022 season, the Michigan hockey team lost 14 out of 29 players due to graduation or the NHL. Team 100 was one of the most talented college hockey teams ever. With former Wolverine stars like Matty Beniers, Owen Power, Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg off to the NHL, Naurato had to take a nearly brand-new team and attempt to exceed expectations.

With 12 players in the incoming freshman class, this made over half of the team underclassmen. To be exact, 17 of the 27 players on the roster are freshmen and sophomores. Michigan has the youngest yet one of the most talented teams in college hockey.

The Michigan hockey team this season has had its ups and downs; however, that was expected with an inexperienced roster. Still, in his first year as head coach, the team went 24-11-3 and won the Big Ten Tournament against No. 1 ranked Minnesota. 

He led this Michigan hockey team to another NCAA tournament berth and to make another run at the Frozen Four. Brandon Naurato not only made the team successful on the ice but off the ice as well. The healthy culture has been restored, and this team is all in on each other and their goals.

Why Remove the “Interim” Tag

Brandon Naurato has exceeded any and all expectations as interim head coach. He helped this team achieve what many thought was impossible.

The team loves him, and he loves the team; what better culture can you ask for? He is a fantastic coach, a great recruiter and a players’ coach. The Michigan hockey program is in its best position for the future.

He knows this team and knows the players as he was an assistant prior. Brandon Naurato is undoubtedly the best fit to coach this team. Now it is all in the athletic department’s hands. The best choice to run this team is Coach Naurato. Now, they will need to sign him for the years to come.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!