Michigan’s power will be key to Illinois matchup

The Michigan baseball workforce may be very complicated. 

All through this rollercoaster of a season it’s been very onerous to foretell which model of the Wolverines will present up on any given day. Nevertheless, one factor has been fixed:

They like to go yard.

Michigan stands at third within the Massive Ten, solely trailing the highest two seeds within the convention. The Wolverines rank within the prime 50 nationally for residence runs per sport at 1.42. The 75 whole bombs is essentially the most Michigan has had in an everyday season since any of the gamers on the workforce had been born. The one years on par are 2008 and 2019, and in each of these seasons, the Wolverines received the Massive Ten event.

“We’ve hit numerous residence runs this yr and greater than we’ve ever had, or no less than this seems like that via the common season,” Michigan coach Erik Bakich mentioned. “And it’s only a veteran lineup that has a disciplined strategy.”

The 2 headed monster of junior proper fielder Clark Elliott and graduate middle fielder Joe Stewart paved the way with 12 and 11 homers respectively. 4 different Michigan gamers path shortly behind with no less than 9. The ability unfold all through the  lineup makes it a continuing menace for manufacturing.

And though that hasn’t at all times translated to wins all through the season, within the Massive Ten Event, it might make the distinction. .

Whereas lots of the Wolverine bats threaten via the lengthy ball, Elliott’s spectacular sport extends past residence runs. He additionally led the workforce in OPS, RBIs and walks and slashed a formidable .349/.467/.611. Elliott’s efforts make him probably the most harmful leadoff hitters within the nation and earned him all-Massive Ten first workforce honors.

The Michigan bats are coming off of a very popular 4 sport stretch the place they’ve scored no less than 9 runs in each sport and received three of 4. Nevertheless, the pitching is on a historic stretch of its personal.

The Wolverines have given up no less than six runs in 10 straight video games, a streak that hasn’t been matched in over 100 years.

In the meantime, Illinois’s ace, left-hander Cole Kirschsieper, is pitching a formidable season with a 3.17 ERA, 7-2 file, and 85 strikeouts in simply 81 innings. Kirschsieper earned all-Massive Ten second workforce honors and can make for  an especially powerful matchup for Michigan. 

Elliott doesn’t fare as nicely towards southpaws as a lefty himself, so the stress will likely be on the depth of the Wolverine’s lineup to maintain up with the Illini.

Illinois is a tricky 4 seed, solely lacking out on the 2 seed by tiebreak. Though Michigan comes into this sport as  the underdog, the Wolverines have proven all through the season that their explosiveness and energy can beat any opponent. Michigan will want its huge bats to return via large time in the important thing first spherical matchup. If the Wolverines can hit 5 homers —the quantity they hit within the first sport towards the Scarlet Knights — an upset is on the horizon.