Michigan tops Cal Poly in extra innings in series opener; Criswell superb in latest start

Michigan Baseball (5-3) got back in the win column on Friday night in a 4-3 victory in extra innings over Cal Poly in the start of a three-game set out west for the Wolverines this weekend.

Junior right-hander Jeff Criswell was tremendous on Friday, going 7.2 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The winning run came across from sophomore infielder Riley Bertram, who doubled to start the 10th inning and then scored on a wild pitch. The Wolverines out-hit the Mustangs 10-4 on Friday evening.

Criswell’s only earned run allowed on the night came on a home run surrendered in the bottom of the first inning to Cal Poly’s leadoff man Cole Cabrera. The Mustangs added another run via an error to take a 2-0 lead after the first inning of play.

Michigan’s offense was held in check for the first trip through the batting order until the top of the fifth inning, where Jack Blomgren doubled in a pair of runs that scored Clark Elliott and Jimmy Obertop to tie the game at 2-2. The Wolverines would take a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single from Danny Zimmerman that scored Joe Donovan.

Ben Keizer came out of the bullpen to relieve Criswell and was able to get the final out of the eighth inning, but Cal Poly was able to tie the game at 3-3 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to send this one to extras. Then, the 10th inning heroics kicked in for the Wolverines and Cameron Weston closed the door to seal the victory for Michigan.

Win: Cameron Weston (1-0): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO

Loss: Bryan Woo (0-2): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 3 SO

The two teams will resume their three-game set on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The game is set to stream here via the Big West’s online platform.