If the first inning of every game this weekend could be erased from the record, the Michigan baseball team might have gone 4-0 instead of 1-3 in its weekend series against Northwestern.

The Wildcats scored 13 first-inning runs but just three in the subsequent innings. Michigan, on the other hand, scored exactly one first-inning run over the four-game series.

On Friday, senior pitcher Craig Murray, who got the surprise start with freshman Zach Putnam out (leg injury), overcame a two-run Northwestern first to pitch a complete game. He gave up just five more hits the rest of the way.

Murray's performance should have set the Wolverines up for a successful weekend. Instead, Northwestern sealed victories in the first inning of each of the next three games.

In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, senior Paul Hammond struggled through the opening frame. After striking out leadoff man Jake Owens, Hammond gave up four straight hits and two runs.

It looked as though he might escape the inning when third baseman Caleb Fields grounded the 0-1 pitch back to Hammond. But Hammond's throw to second bounced into centerfield, instead of starting an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play. Designated hitter Antonio Mule scored from third on the play.

The inning was further extended with two outs by another error, this one an errant throw from senior third baseman A. J. Scheidt. Two more runs scored and Michigan lost 5-0 even though Hammond pitched shutout ball the rest of the way.

"The first inning of game one, unfortunately, pretty much took us out of the game," Michigan coach Rich Maloney said. "I just don't understand how we could play so poorly, after having so many weeks and so many games of playing so well defensively."

The Wolverines seemed to be getting back on track in Saturday's second game when senior Drew Taylor gave up just one run in the first, which his teammates immediately matched in the bottom of the inning.

But the early-game problems persisted into the second inning. Taylor gave up three more runs on four hits, and Michigan lost 4-2.

"Two big innings did us in (on Saturday)," Maloney said. "Outside of that, we were OK. But we allowed two big innings, and you can't do that when you're facing two good pitchers."

Possibly the most painful first inning came in the series finale. With freshman Adam Abraham, the team's closer, on the mound, the Wolverines expected to finally make it to the bottom of the inning with the score still knotted at zero.

"What better guy to have in there than your closer, to close out the first inning?" Maloney said. "And then we got five runs (scored against us)."

Abraham left the game without even recording an out. Northwestern's leadoff man grounded back to Abraham. The pitcher bobbled the chance and opened the floodgates. He gave up four singles and a walk before junior Andrew Hess relieved him. Two more of Abraham's runners scored before Hess was able to shut down the Wildcats. Hess, senior Ali Husain and freshman Ben Jenzen pitched scoreless baseball for eight more innings, but the offense could muster just four runs to Northwestern's five.

"Unfortunately, the first inning counts," Maloney said. "We need to be able to make plays in the first inning. We spotted (Northwestern) runs in the first inning in four straight games. I think in baseball history about 70 percent (of teams) win when they score first. And that worked out. They won three games, that's 75 percent."