In a series-deciding final game with major postseason implications, sophomore left-hander Michael Quedens took the mound for the Michigan baseball team. Typically a relief arm, Quedens made his first start after never pitching more than 2.2 innings at a time. With only 8.9 innings under Quedens’ belt, Wolverines’ coach Tracy Smith made the tactical decision to use him as an opener in one of Michigan’s highest-pressure games of the season.
What Smith didn’t expect was for Quedens to go the distance, delivering 6.1 innings in a traditional starter’s role and exiting the game with the Wolverines holding a five run lead. By the end of the ninth, Michigan secured an 8-5 win to clinch the series over Minnesota.
“I woke up about three in the morning last night, and texted pitching coach, Brock Huntzinger,” Smith said. “I was like, ‘You know what? Why don’t we do an opener scenario and try to get three to six outs to shorten the game?’ … So we’re very happy for him, and all the guys, because they deserve this series win.”
But Quedens wasn’t the only example of the Wolverines’ clutch bullpen depth. While Michigan’s pitching staff wasn’t flawless, the series featured several key relief performances from emerging contributors that helped the Wolverines stay afloat.
The weekend was far from smooth sailing. The Golden Gophers showed their offensive firepower throughout, showcased by eight home runs over three games. This proved costly in Friday’s opener, when Michigan conceded eight runs in the first three innings and lost by a run-rule margin of 13-1.
But the game took a turn for the better for the Wolverines in the fifth inning, when redshirt freshman right-hander Justin Brown and redshirt sophomore left-hander Keegan O’Hearn combined to throw Minnesota’s only scoreless inning. Entering with a combined 10.9 innings of experience, the pair each struck out two batters and provided one of the few bright spots in Friday’s loss.
“Their job was to come in and shut the opposition down and stop the bleeding a little bit,” Smith said. “They did a good job. They’re gonna have some meaningful innings somewhere down the stretch, and those innings always help in preparation for them.”
On Saturday, the Gophers threatened again, building a five-run advantage before the bottom of the third inning. But freshman left-hander Shane Brinham steadied the game, tossing back-to-back three-up, three-down frames in the fourth and fifth to help Michigan claw back.
Routine closer junior right-hander Gavin DeVooght faltered in the sixth, conceding a two-run homer, and the Wolverines brought in freshman left-hander Slade Moore to salvage the game. Another fresh arm, Moore held his own with three strikeouts and 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing Michigan to level the score.
The Wolverines chose junior right-hander Cade Montgomery to close things out. Despite allowing one run, Montgomery forced a flyout and struck out two batters to seal the win.
“We’ve liked (Montgomery), he’s been coming on as of late,” Smith said. “He’s going to be a weapon as we continue down the stretch and hopefully get in the postseason, because he just keeps getting better and better. … We feel good with the guys we put in there and give us the best chance to win, and this weekend (we) got it done.”
The series was tied entering Sunday, and the Wolverines needed a statement — which Quedens provided. He struck out three, walked one and, despite allowing two home runs, far exceeded expectations while preserving usual Sunday starter, senior right-hander David Lally Jr., for a future start.
“Our goal was to pitch David Lally after five or six outs,” Smith said. “David is our Sunday starter … but Quedens was getting quick outs and (Lally) selflessly gave away his start. And then once we got to a certain point in the game, we’re like, ‘We’re going to hold on to him and start him a different game.’ ”
With the help of several untapped bullpen arms, Michigan flipped a series that initially appeared to head Minnesota’s direction. In the process, the Wolverines gave newer arms valuable experience while clinching a series with high postseason stakes.
