There was finally a situation where I didn’t feel so scared about Jeff DeCarlo pitching for Michigan. That situation you may ask? That would be an 18-0 lead in the 7th inning of today’s game at Western Michigan. DeCarlo did give up a run in his one inning of work, but it obviously meant nothing.
The final score is 20-1. I’ll link to the box score when it comes out.
Travis Smith started this game for Michigan. He pitched 6 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. Great start (and win) for Smith, but yeah, Western isn’t a good team at all. They are #244 in RPI according to Boyds World. Their batting average ranks #224 out of 288 teams ranked by the NCAA. Regardless, it’s nice to see a Michigan starter pitch to their level and not the opposing team’s.
Mike Dufek lead the real beating of the Broncos. While wearing the #25 jersey (not sure why), he destroyed WMU in every aspect of the game. Dufek went 6 for 6 on the day with 5 RBI and 4 runs. Holy crap. That means he’s on a 8 at-bat hitting streak including his two singles to close out the OSU series. That has to be approaching a school record. In those 6 hits were 2 homers and 4 singles. Monstrous day.
As if that wasn’t enough, Coach Maloney let him pitch the 9th inning. I guess Dufek was upset he got stranded on deck, unable to go 7 for 7, to end the top of the 9th inning. Dufek unleashed the heat in the 9th, striking out the side with almost exclusively the high heat. Someone don’t stop that man!
Other offensive performances of note:
- LaMarre – 2/5 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
- Urban – 2/3 2 R, 2 RBI
- Berset – 3/4 4 RBI, R, 2B
- Oaks – 2/6 3 RBI, 2 R, HR
- 12 Wolverines with a hit, 6 had multiple hits
- 8 Wolverines with an RBI, 6 had multiple RBIs
We start up again tomorrow at the Fish. 6:35pm start time for those of you in Ann Arbor. Hopefully we see this kind of game again tomorrow. No starters have been announced yet.
Posted under Baseball