Michigan Baseball falls to Pepperdine 12-2 in series opener

The Michigan Wolverines (7-6 record) opened their three-game series at Pepperdine (11-2) on Friday night and the first game of the weekend did not go so well for them, losing by a score of 12-2.

Michigan only had nine hits in the game with junior infielder Jack Blomgren providing two of them in the form of a double and his first home run of the season. Junior right-handed pitcher Jeff Criswell took his first loss of the season after allowing three runs in the first inning and going five-plus innings with seven strikeouts.

Pepperdine took a 3-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning, but Criswell settled in fairly well. Blomgren scored on a passed ball in the fourth and his homer in the top of the sixth actually made this a 3-2 game. The Waves would respond with a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2, and then the bottom fell out.

Pepperdine scored four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings and roughed up the Michigan bullpen. Isaiah Page and Angelo Smith allowed eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks in their three innings of combined work.

Freshmean Joey Velazquez and Tito Flores both had singles in the ninth inning as pinch hitters. Redshirt freshman Jordon Rogers also had his first-career hit in the ninth.

Win: Wil Jensen (3-0): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 8 SO

Loss: Jeff Criswell (0-1): 5 IP, 9 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 7 SO

Save: Dane Morrow (1): 3 IP, 5 H, 2 SO

There’s been an adjustment to the schedule, so now Michigan will play the final two games of the series on Saturday in a doubleheader in Malibu. Game 1 is set for 1 p.m. ET with game Game set to follow at 4 p.m. ET. Both games will stream live on Stadium.

Full box score available on MGoBlue.com.