1-0 Ducks after two innings from a Mason Neville home run. Oregon starter Will Sanford has given up a couple of hits, but has settled into a groove with fast-balls and sliders. The Michigan pitcher has kept our batters at bay as well, so with the drizzly rain...this might be a day for the pitchers.

 

Coach Waz said in the pregame interview that the Wolverines still have a great starter, reliever and closer on their staff who have not been utilized yet, and we are seeing that is true with their starter.

 

 

2-2 after three innings. Oregon's Sanford got shaky, but so did Michigan pitching, as the Ducks scored on a wild pitch. But we had bases-loaded with no outs...and only got one run? Waz does not like bunting down the first base line as I do for a sacrifice to score, as I'd trade an out for a run all day when you have 27 outs in a game.

 

I am really looking for the highly acclaimed Will Sanford that we've heard about from fall practice.  He has an ERA over 5, and has not done well the last couple of outings. It is said he has four great pitches, but I'd settle for a couple right now!

 

The Throw-Back unis are cool...

 

4-2 Michigan after four innings. The bad news is that Oregon's Sanford has given up four runs in four innings, and the good news is that the Pride of Sherwood Oregon, Ian Umlandt, is coming into replace him in the fifth inning.

 

Ian Umlandt

 

7-6 Ducks after five innings, as Umlandt got tagged for a two-run dinger by the Wolverines, but Oregon got the bats going!  A massive two-run blast by Jacob Walsh was a great start...

 

 

Then the Pride of Springfield, Maddox Molony hit a sweet single to score two!

 

 

 

 

But wait!  The Ducks did a double-steal of second base,

and home to score Molony!

 

 

10-7 Michigan after six innings, as Umlandt was replaced by Santiago Garcia, who was then shelled for a Grand-Slam.  To add insult to injury--Oregon stranded bases-loaded to end the inning.

 

My Kingdom for a Pitcher!

 

 

10-7 Michigan after seven innings, as the Ducks stranded two on base again...

 

 

12-10 Michigan after eight innings, as Cole Stokes came in for Oregon...and was awful. He loaded the bases with walks and hit batters, and then Ryan Featherston walked home two runs before finishing the inning.

 

Drew Smith was subbed in, who then hit a three-run homer to close the gap to two....can Our Beloved Ducks pull this out over the Wolverines?

 

 

 

 

 

Michigan wins 12-11.  I am too distraught to discuss, but I will get back later in the week with my updated thoughts about the team.