As the Michigan baseball team pitched its way to its first shut-out of the season, the Wolverines still had trepidation.

Second base could be cursed for Michigan.

By the end of the fifth inning of Michigan’s 6-0 win over Western Michigan, the Wolverines had two hurt second basemen and were filling in for injured senior tri-captain Kevin Cislo, who usually mans the position.

But despite the absence of its captain, Michigan pounced on the Broncos for the second straight day by getting off to a hefty 5-0 lead after the first inning.

Instead of using the long ball, the Wolverines capitalized by stringing together timely base hits. Junior catcher Chris Berset pulled a ball directly down the first base line with the bases loaded to score two runs, and the next batter, junior Alan Oaks, got in on the act with a two-run double.

Redshirt junior Nick Urban was injured sliding into second base in the first inning of the game. He was playing second base in replacement of injured senior tri-captain Kevin Cislo.

Sophomore Ryan LaMarre tripled to deep right center field in the fifth, and junior Mike Kittle slapped a ball under a diving second baseman’s glove to score LaMarre. But Kittle got picked off on the next batter and was injured diving back into first base as he was picked off to end the inning.

Kittle stayed in the game despite being checked out after the inning-ending play.

“Injuries just happen, they’re unfortunate,” said Michigan coach Rich Maloney. “But yeah, it’s almost like ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’.”

But aside from the injuries, the Wolverines were dominant in all aspects of the game. Maloney said he couldn’t have asked for better baseball over the last three games: Sunday’s 9-2 win over Ohio State, Tuesday’s 20-1 win over the Broncos and Wednesday’s shut-out victory.

Michigan benefited from strong pitching for the second day in a row. Freshman pitcher Brandon Sinnery made his fifth career start and held Western Michigan in check through the first six innings. After allowing two singles to lead off the game, Sinnery proceeded to fake a pickoff throw to first base and swiftly turned and got the runner at third base out to redeem himself.

After Sinnery left the game, the bullpen shut down the Broncos to maintain the lead. Sophomores Kolby Wood, Matt Miller, and Tyler Burgoon closed the door on Western to finish the game strong.

“They pitched well,” Maloney said of his staff’s effort. “We couldn’t have scripted it better. That’s actually how we would like it to be. Have guys pitch one inning, seventh, eighth and ninth and have a strong six innings (from the starter).”

The shut-out was important for the Wolverine bullpen's confidence.

“We needed one of those,” Berset said. “The pitchers get all excited. They get their confidence up too. And I mean you have to give credit to the pitchers and coach (Bob Keller). They were mixing it in and out, and sliders and down. That’s just a great called game by him, and great execution by our pitchers.”

Injury Note: Maloney said injured Nick Urban would get an X-Ray on Thursday, adding that it “looked like a dislocation.” Maloney went on to say that he didn’t know that he would be able to play in the first game of this weekend's series Friday against Minnesota, but if it was a dislocation he hoped the redshirt junior could play “at some point.”