MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — Michigan used a four-run second inning and a three-run third to build an early lead and held off a late Minnesota rally, defeating the Golden Gophers 8-5 on Sunday afternoon at Siebert Field.

The Wolverines improved to 32-18 overall, while Minnesota fell to 30-20. Michigan took two of three in the series after splitting the first two games, winning 9-8 on Saturday and losing 13-1 on Friday.

Michigan starter Michael Quedens pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing four earned runs on no hits with three strikeouts and earned top-star honors for the visitors. Quedens worked around four walks and two hit batters, limiting the Golden Gophers to a single hit through the first six innings before surrendering two home runs in the seventh. Cade Montgomery recorded the final five outs, striking out one and allowing no hits for the save.

The Wolverines struck first in the second inning. Brayden Jefferis, Matthew Ossenfort and Brenden Stressler strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Dane Morrow reached on an error by left fielder Ty Allen on a sacrifice fly, driving in two runs. Elie Kligman then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Stressler and making it 3-0.

Colby Turner led off the third inning with a solo home run to left center. Evan Haeger doubled and scored on a single by Ossenfort. Stressler doubled, and Morrow added a sacrifice fly to plate Ossenfort, giving Michigan a 6-0 advantage.

Minnesota got on the board in the bottom of the third. Jack Spanier walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Weber Neels. The Golden Gophers had runners at first and third but stranded them.

Michigan extended the lead in the fifth. Stressler singled and came home on a double by Morrow, making it 7-1. Haeger led off the sixth with a home run to left field, his second hit of the game, pushing the margin to 8-1.

Minnesota began its comeback in the sixth. Ty Allen homered to left field, cutting the deficit to 8-2. In the seventh, Jack Mosh homered to right center. After a single by Spanier, Davis Hamilton capped the rally with a two-run homer to right field, pulling the Golden Gophers within 8-5.

Minnesota mounted a threat in the eighth. Easton Richter singled and Brayden Hellum followed with a single, but Montgomery entered and retired the next two batters. In the ninth, Minnesota went down in order, with Spanier and Hamilton grounding out and Weber Neels striking out looking.

For Minnesota, Ben Gregory pitched three innings of relief, allowing two hits and no earned runs while striking out four. Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Mosh was 2-for-4 with a homer and an RBI. Allen hit a solo homer.

For Michigan, Haeger finished 2-for-4 with a homer and an RBI. Morrow drove in three runs on a double and a sacrifice fly. Turner homered.

The game was the final regular-season meeting between the two Big Ten foes. Michigan next hosts Ohio on Tuesday before a three-game series against Ohio State. Minnesota hosts Nebraska for a three-game set beginning Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Minnesota 7, Michigan 6, but Interstat’s ELO system gave Michigan a 55.20 percent probability to win.