The Michigan baseball team is migrating north with the coming of spring.
After playing its first eight games in Florida, the Wolverines (5-6) left the sunshine state for good. Coming off a three-game series in Louisiana against McNeese State, Michigan continues to move up the map with three games in Lawrence, Kan. this weekend before its first home game at Fisher Stadium. The Wolverines will play in their first-ever meeting with Illinois-Chicago followed by two games against Kansas.
The change of scenery saw Michigan start to right its ship, snapping a four-game losing streak by taking the last two against the Cowboys.
“We”ve got a two-game wining streak,” co-captain Scott Tousa said. “We”re just hoping to carry that momentum into the series (in Kansas) and get three wins there and then carry that into the Big Ten season.”
The approach to the final games before the first Big Ten series at Iowa is no different than it has ever been.
“We have been trying to set our roster, see who”s hot and who can do what,” coach Geoff Zahn said. “I think that question will continue to be answered.”
The projected pitching rotation for the weekend in Kansas remains the same Nick Alexander, Bobby Korecky and Jim Brauer. Pitching coach Steve Foster is pleased with the overall performance of his staff, thus far.
“I think our pitchers are giving our hitters the opportunity to win,” he said.
Korecky”s last outing against McNeese State was a complete-game, 3-1 win in which he fanned six. The freshman Brauer had a shaky first-career start the next day. He was pulled with the bases loaded after allowing four runs in 4.2 innings.
“I think Jim learned a lot,” Foster said. “He got in a little bit of trouble in the middle innings because I think he got in a pattern of throwing his breaking ball. You learn quick when you get to this level that you can”t overuse the pitch because hitters make adjustments.”