After the final out was recorded in its weekend series against Penn State, the Michigan baseball team waited for Michigan coach Erik Bakich in left field to address it as he does after every game. Normally, Bakich is met by a team quietly awaiting his words. This time, the Wolverines joyously engulfed him, jumping up and down, exulting in victory.

After going five years without a Big Ten series sweep before sweeping Michigan State last weekend, Michigan (7-2 Big Ten, 20-14 overall) repeated the feat, as it handled Penn State in three consecutive games, 5-1, 3-2 and 8-1. With the sweep, the team has won nine games in a row.

“Even though we hadn’t (swept a series) before, once we got a taste of it we knew that we could come out and do it again,” said senior centerfielder Patrick Biondi.

Against the Nittany Lions (0-9, 7-24), the Wolverine bullpen played a pivotal role, entering all three games when the outcome was in doubt. The relief pitchers combined to pitch 14 innings in the series while allowing no runs and six hits. Sophomore right-hander Matt Ogden led the way, pitching 7.1 innings in his two appearances and being credited with the win each time.

“With this hot streak we’re on right now, we’re doing our job, and we trust our coach with pitches,” Ogden said. “Everyone is trying to get theirs a little bit and help this team out.”

Ogden was forced into early action in Sunday’s game after redshirt junior left-hander Logan McAnallen labored through the first inning and got pulled before recording an out in the second.

Ogden came in with the game tied at one with runners on first and second and no outs. Not only did he prevent damage in the inning by inducing a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout and a groundout, but he pitched five more scoreless innings afterwards.

His performance allowed the Michigan offense to slowly build a lead as the Wolverines scored two runs in the third and fourth innings and added three more insurance runs in the seventh. Freshman third baseman Jacob Cronenworth led Michigan with three RBI on Sunday as the 8-1 victory completed the sweep.

Ogden earned his other victory of the weekend on Friday. After sophomore left-hander Trent Szkutnik exited the game after a dominant 6.2 innings in which he garnered 12 strikeouts – the most for a Michigan pitcher in a single game since Chris Fetter struck out 13 in 2009 – Ogden entered in the seventh inning with runners on first and second and recorded the final out of the inning. Like many teams on winning streaks, some luck went Michigan’s way, as Penn State catcher Alex Farkes tripped as he rounded third base and was thrown out at home.

Down by one run, the Wolverine offense woke up in the eighth after three straight walks, and junior left fielder Michael O’Neill’s infield single with the bases loaded. Penn State shortstop Taylor Skerpon’s late throw sailed wide of first base, allowing an extra run to score. The Wolverines would add three more insurance runs in the inning, and the score would stand pat, as Cronenworth pitched the ninth inning in Michigan’s 5-1 victory.

On Saturday, Michigan parlayed three early runs into a victory. Though freshman left-hander Evan Hill wasn’t sharp – he allowed five walks, five hits and two earned runs in 5.1 innings – the bullpen ensured that Michigan would hold the early lead. Right-handers senior Kyle Clark, sophomore James Bourque and Cronenworth allowed only one runner to reach base in the final 3.2 innings of the game.

“A good bullpen is a good recipe for any team to get a lot of wins late in the game,” Bakich said. “Having our bullpen be able to put zeros up and keep the game right where it was was critical for our success.”

Though it’s still early in conference play, the success of the bullpen assures that there’s now one other place to find Wolverines than in left field: at the top of the Big Ten standings.