Preview: Bowling Green Falcons at Michigan Wolverines

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Interstat) — The Michigan Wolverines look to rebound from a rare high-scoring defeat when they host the Bowling Green Falcons in a non-conference matchup Wednesday evening at Ray Fisher Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures around 70 degrees.

Michigan (24-16) enters having won 10 of its last 13 games but is coming off an offensive slugfest, a 12-10 road loss to Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday. First baseman Cade Ladehoff powered the offense in that defeat, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. He is a key bat for a Wolverines lineup that will face a Bowling Green pitcher coming off a historic performance.

The Falcons (13-20), who have lost three straight, will counter with right-hander Andrew Heffernan. Heffernan is coming off a dominant, albeit brief, outing where he threw six hitless and scoreless innings with four strikeouts in a relief appearance against Massachusetts on April 18. Over his last five appearances, he has allowed just one earned run in 15.2 innings pitched.

Bowling Green dropped a tight series at Massachusetts over the weekend, including a 6-5 loss on Saturday. Left fielder TJ Takats drove in two runs in that game, while pitcher Ethan Stade struck out 14 batters over seven innings.

The Wolverines have been strong at home and are heavily favored. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-4 Michigan victory.

Following this midweek contest, Michigan opens a three-game home series against Washington on Friday. Bowling Green returns home to begin a series against Toledo on Friday.

Probable Key Matchup: The game may hinge on Michigan’s ability to solve Heffernan’s recent form. If the Wolverines’ bats, led by Ladehoff and second baseman Colby Turner (4 RBIs on Tuesday), can strike early, they can leverage their significant advantage in season record. For the Falcons, generating offense against a deep Michigan pitching staff will be critical to pulling an upset.

The game will be the final non-conference tune-up for both teams before resuming their respective league schedules this weekend.