Michigan host Minnesota this weekend after splitting two mid-week games

The Michigan Wolverines host the Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend as they look to build off their impressive start to the Big Ten season.

The Wolverines have won each of their first three Big Ten series, two of which have been on the road. Last weekend they fell in the opener to Iowa, but then swept the Hawkeyes in a doubleheader on Saturday to take the series.

The Wolverines came out of the weekend playing well but were brought back down to Earth on Tuesday when they gave up five runs in the top of the ninth to lose to Western Michigan.

Joonsung Park helped lead the offense with two hits and a home run. Stephen Hrustich, Mitch Voirt and AJ Garcia also had two hits apiece in the loss.

Ricky Kidd took the loss as he gave up five runs in the ninth inning. That loss dropped him to 1-3.

The Wolverines were able to bounce back a day later as they beat Wisconsin Milwaukee 3-1. It took a while for the Wolverines to get going as they were shutout heading into the eighth, but they plated all three of their runs in the bottom of the inning to get the win.

Voit had a two-run home run to power the Wolverines to the come-from-behind win. Kidd would get the win on the mound after throwing to just one guy in the eighth inning. He struck out that lone batter and benefited from the Wolverines rally.

They will now look to carry that momentum into their weekend series with the Golden Gophers.

The Golden Gophers come to Ann Arbor just 2-4 in the Big Ten but are on a two-game winning streak.

Minnesota avoided a sweep on Saturday when they beat Illinois in the second game of a doubleheader. They followed that win up with an 11-3 win over North Dakota State on Tuesday.

The Golden Gophers have lost two of three to both Iowa and Illinois and are looking for their first Big Ten series win of the season.

They have just two guys that play regularly hitting over .300 this year. Josh Fitzgerald is leading the way at .328 and Weber Neels is right behind him at .327.

Brady Counsell and Ike Messenga are the power guys for the Gophers as they have both hit six home runs this season.

Connor Wietgrefe is the team’s top pitcher coming into the weekend with a 3.45 ERA and a 3-2 record. Tucker Novatny and Will Semb have both struggled as they have a 6.62 and 7.93 ERA respectively.

Those three will likely be the starters for the weekend as only two other pitchers have started a game this season.

Game 1: Friday, April 12, 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Game 2: Saturday, April 13, 2 p.m ET, B1G+

Game 3: Sunday, April 14, 1 p.m. ET, B1G+