ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan racked up 14 hits at the plate and 14 strikeouts on the mound to defeat Purdue baseball, 9-3, in the opener of the three-game Big Ten series Friday afternoon.
Twelve of the Wolverines' 14 hits were singles but the base-hit approach helped them score in six of the eight innings. Michigan (22-16, 7-6 Big Ten) also had its leadoff man reach base safely in six of the eight innings.
Due to rain in the forecast Sunday, the teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. It will be Purdue's sixth twinbill of the season.
The Boilermakers (12-25, 1-9 Big Ten) had plenty of early chances to score more than the two runs they did. But Purdue left 10 men on base in the game, including nine over the first five innings.
With Michigan leading 5-2 and two outs in the top of the fifth, the Boilers loaded the bases thanks to three walks. But U-M reliever Mac Lozer struck out Cody Strong on a full-count pitch to escape the jam. It was the only batter Lozer (1-0) faced while being credited with the victory.
Alec Olund led off the seventh inning with a towering home run over the tall brick wall in left field, connecting for his third home run of the season (all coming in April). It was the Boilers' 10th home run in the month of April and 20th of the season. Unfortunately, it was also Purdue's 15th solo homer this year. Olund also had an infield single, walk and outfield assist Friday, throwing out a runner at second base from right field.
Strong reached base safely in his other three plate appearances, singling twice and drawing a walk. Harry Shipley led off the game with a ground rule double down the left field line, his third two-bagger in a stretch of six plate appearances dating back to Wednesday. Strong and Shipley both drove in a run in the second inning, but the Boilers only scored twice in the frame after the first four batters of the frame reached base safely.
Michigan starter Jacob Cronenworth struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings and also went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored while batting leadoff in the lineup. Jackson Glines and Kendall Patrick also had three hits.
From the fourth inning on, the Wolverines struck out 12 of the 25 Purdue batters to come to the plate. All six outs Michigan recorded in the fourth and fifth innings were via the strikeout. Purdue had a combined five base runners in those frames, but Cody Strong's one-out single in the fourth marked the only time the ball was put in play.
Kyle Wood walked in the first inning to extend his reached base safely streak in Big Ten play to 16 consecutive games dating back to last season. However, he finished the day 0-for-4 to end his 10-game overall hit streak. The first baseman also committed an error to begin the second inning, and the Wolverines took advantage of the extra out by scoring three unearned runs in the frame.
Kyle Van Hoeck induced a pair of inning-double plays over three innings of effective relief. The southpaw retired seven of the 10 batters he faced and worked a 1-2-3 inning vs. Michigan's 3-4-5 hitters in the bottom of the fifth.
Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
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