No. 18 Maryland baseball vs. Michigan preview

After capturing a collection win in opposition to Rutgers this previous weekend, the workforce sitting in first place within the Large Ten, No. 18 Maryland baseball is getting ready for the postseason. Now, the Terps face off in opposition to Michigan this weekend of their final residence collection of the season.

The Terps began off their away collection at Rutgers in sport considered one of Sunday’s doubleheader in dominant vogue, successful 16-8 in opposition to the Scarlet Knights. Fifth-year outfielder Chris Alleyne was the star, recording 5 RBIs to guide his workforce to victory.

Sport two of the doubleheader noticed a special efficiency from the Terps, with sophomore right-handed pitcher Jason Savacool solely lasting one inning resulting from again soreness. He gave up three of Rutgers’ 18 runs as they crushed the Terps, 18-7.

Within the collection finale on Monday, Alleyne was the hero, hitting a three-run homer within the ninth inning to seal the 9-4 victory for Maryland.

Michigan has struggled not too long ago, solely successful 4 of their final 10 video games. Nonetheless they crushed Wright State on Wednesday night time at residence, 21-9.

The collection will likely be broadcast on Large Ten Plus. Friday’s sport is about for six:30 p.m., Saturday’s is slated for two p.m. and Sunday’s finale will begin at 1 p.m.

College of Michigan (24-21, 10-8 Large Ten Convention)

2021 report: 27-19 (27-17, Large Ten)

Head coach Erik Bakich supplies constant successful seasons because the chief of the Wolverines program. Final yr, he coached a workforce that certified for an NCAA Regional and made appearances ranked within the prime 25 . Now, the 2019 Nationwide Coach of the 12 months has a workforce that’s simply above .500 and is hoping to make a push within the convention match. His workforce has to face the 2 greatest groups within the Large Ten, Rutgers and Maryland, in its final two collection of convention play. The duty seems daunting, however Bakich has the expertise and expertise to make a late season push.

Hitters to look at

Junior infielder/outfielder Clark Elliott – After posting a .270 batting common and hitting 22 RBIs final season, Elliot has made a giant soar as a junior. This yr, he’s already hit greater than double the quantity of RBIs he had final season with 49. He’s posting a .351/.450/.578 hitting cut up and is second on the workforce with 65 hits. Elliott’s numbers put him consistent with among the greatest within the convention, and he has additionally recorded probably the most walks (29) on the workforce.

Graduate scholar outfielder Joe Stewart – One other key chief and contributor for the Wolverines, Joe Stewart, has been productive on the plate as properly. Having began each single sport this season, Stewart leads Michigan with 68 hits. He’s additionally second on the Wolverines with 9 residence runs and a .340 batting common. Bakich can actually belief Stewart as he has come by means of with clutch play all through the season.

Pitchers to look at

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Chase Allen – The Colorado native started the yr as a reliever, however his latest play has pushed him right into a starter function. In his final three begins in convention play, he’s given up 11 mixed runs, however he’s nonetheless placing forth a good sophomore marketing campaign. Allen has a 6-0 report this season and has pitched 58.2 innings. His 3.84 ERA and 1.13 WHIP each lead the Wolverines. He ought to get the beginning this weekend.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Connor O’Halloran – As an underclassmen starter in faculty, inconsistent performances are more likely to happen. As O’Halloran’s 4.41 ERA signifies, he has given up his fair proportion of runs this season, however he’s additionally proven flashes of dominance. The lefty is fourth within the Large Ten with 80 strikeouts, and he’s thrown 67.1 innings (sixth most within the Large Ten and most on the workforce). Although O’Halloran’s ERA could not inform the complete story, he can pose an issue for batters when he’s within the zone.

Energy

Hitting residence runs. The batting common for this workforce just isn’t nice. The workforce is batting .278 total and whereas not everybody needs to be hitting above .300, solely two Wolverine batters are. Nonetheless, the homers have been there all through the season for this squad. Out of every hitter that has began all 45 video games this season, just one Michigan batter has lower than eight residence runs. They’ll must hold hitting bombs with a purpose to beat Maryland’s high-octane offense.

Weak point

The pitching employees. When the workforce common ERA to your squad is 6.32 – which ranks eleventh out of the 13 Large Ten groups – it doesn’t precisely create a successful recipe. Regardless of O’Halloran and Allen, the remainder of the bullpen doesn’t possess a complete lot of expertise. Even Michigan’s two dependable pitchers have walked a mixed 58 batters this season. If the Wolverines must depend on the again of their bullpen, don’t be stunned if Maryland capitalizes.

Three issues to look at

1. How totally different will this sport look than the primary time these two groups met on March 4? Whenever you have a look at each of those workforce’s present information and positions within the standings, one would assume that Maryland got here out on prime within the final sport. However it was really Michigan who pulled out a 7-4 win earlier this season, handing Maryland its first lack of the yr. It was a brutal sport for the Terps, who had been up 4-0 within the sixth inning however ended up shedding the lead after starter Nick Dean solely managed to pitch 5.1 innings. Maryland is hoping it will probably rebound in a giant means from greater than two months in the past.

2. Will the relievers step up? Maryland’s bullpen has been a query mark all through the season, particularly within the Saturday sport in opposition to Northwestern and the primary sport in opposition to Michigan. Utilizing the Northwestern sport for instance, Savacool ended up holding the Wildcats scoreless for seven innings earlier than different pitchers stepped in. The following three pitchers gave up seven runs in two innings to lose the sport. Relievers reminiscent of Sean Heine and David Falco Jr. might want to make a optimistic affect this weekend with a purpose to take an essential collection win.

3. Can Maryland keep within the Large Ten title race? To be able to seize the Large Ten common season title, this Michigan collection is essential for the Terps. Though Rutgers has a 1.5 sport lead within the standings, Maryland has a chance to move them with two Large Ten collection remaining.. The Terps management their very own future going ahead and can safe the Large Ten title in the event that they win out. Relying on how Rutgers fares subsequent weekend in opposition to Michigan, Maryland could not must win the remainder of its video games to clinch the championship. Regardless, if the Terps can take or sweep this collection, it’s going to put them in good place for his or her final weekend collection at Purdue.