Oregon at Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Interstat) — Shane Brinham delivered a masterful complete-game shutout, and the Michigan Wolverines’ offense erupted for a decisive 10-0 victory over the No. 8-ranked Oregon Ducks in a seven-inning contest Thursday evening at Ray Fisher Stadium.
The game, played under the 10-run rule, was dominated from the start by Brinham. The right-hander was in complete command, scattering three singles while striking out seven and walking none. He faced just three batters over the minimum, needing only 87 pitches to silence a Ducks lineup that entered the game with a 23-6 record and a national ranking. Brinham’s performance starkly contrasted his recent outings, where he had struggled, allowing five earned runs over four combined innings in his last two appearances.
Oregon’s best chance came in the first inning when Dominic Gimenez singled with one out, but Brinham induced a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat. The Ducks would only muster two more hits the rest of the way, a sixth-inning single by Carter Cooney and a seventh-inning infield single by Brennan Smith, as Brinham retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced.
The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the third inning, transforming a tight 1-0 contest into a commanding lead for the Wolverines. Michigan had taken a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo home run to right field by catcher Noah Miller, his second of the season.
In the third, the Wolverines broke the game open against Oregon starter Will Sanford and reliever Josh Hollis. After a hit-by-pitch and two walks loaded the bases with one out, Stephen Stressler grounded out to second, driving in a run. Miller then delivered the key blow, lacing a two-run single to center to extend the lead to 4-0. Following a walk and a strikeout that resulted in a wild pitch, Brayden Jefferis capped the six-run inning with a two-run single to center, scoring Miller and Grant Haeger.
Michigan added a run in the fourth on a double play grounder that scored Greg Pace Jr., who had doubled. They invoked the 10-run rule with a three-run sixth inning. Cooper Mullens drove in a run with a double, and Colby Turner followed with a two-run double down the left-field line to provide the final margin.
Miller led the Michigan offense, going 2 for 3 with the home run and three RBIs. Turner and Jefferis each drove in two runs. The Wolverines improved to 15-13 with the win, while the Ducks, who were projected by Interstat’s ELO system to have a 65.30 percent probability to win, fell to 23-7.
The teams continue their four-game series Friday at Ray Fisher Stadium.