Senior right-hander Kurt Barr has consistently been the Michigan baseball team’s ace this year. Entering the postseason with nearly 100 strikeouts — ranking seventh in all-time program history — Barr has certainly made his mark on the Wolverines, earning Third Team All-Big Ten honors along the way.
In Friday’s quarterfinal loss to Nebraska, Barr entered in relief of starting redshirt freshman right-hander Erik Puodziunas. Coming out of the bullpen for four innings, Barr struck out seven batters, keeping a threatening Cornhuskers lineup largely at bay. But this wasn’t Barr’s typical role, and it also wasn’t the first time he’d stood atop the mound during Michigan’s Big Ten tournament run.
Two days prior, Barr started against Washington, but it was a less-than-ideal outing. He opened the first inning strong, but things went awry in the second when he surrendered two walks and a homer. After walking another batter to begin the third, Wolverines coach Tracy Smith didn’t hesitate to make a change, cutting Barr’s outing short after just two innings.
“We said the other night when Kurt didn’t have it, ‘Stay ready, because you know we’re gonna go ahead and make the move now, because we’re gonna bring him back,’ “ Smith said. “We felt really confident in that. He did an excellent job of giving us a chance to get back in it.”
Barr’s shorter-than-expected stint on the mound Wednesday — coupled with a complete game from freshman left-hander Shane Brinham against Ohio State the next day that rested the entire Michigan bullpen — left him well-rested to face Nebraska in the quarterfinals.
Earlier this season, Barr started in Michigan’s lone victory over the Cornhuskers, earning the win in a 2-1 pitchers’ duel. However, on Friday, Smith opted to save him early and instead turned to a less familiar arm in Puodziunas, who didn’t play against Nebraska in the regular season.
Puodziunas held his own, tallying three strikeouts in three innings, though he also allowed two runs. But when the Cornhuskers hit a double and single to open the fourth, it was time for Barr’s experience to steady the Wolverines’ defense. Even so, entering in the fourth inning was an unfamiliar position for the poised right-hander.
“I wouldn’t say it changes the way I approach it,” Barr said about playing as a reliever. “Though the feelings are a little bit different, going in the fourth versus opening the game, the emotions are a little bit higher. But that was a fun game to pitch in regardless … Nothing changes from an execution standpoint, but the fiery nature is needed a little bit more.”
Barr couldn’t fully escape the fourth despite striking out two batters. After issuing a walk, he gave up a single with the bases loaded, which was all it took for Nebraska to score two runs and expand its lead.
From there, however, Barr settled into rhythm. He allowed only one single in the fifth while adding a groundout, flyout and strikeout, then retired the side in the sixth behind another groundout and two more strikeouts.
“He’s tough,” Cornhuskers coach Will Bolt said. “It’s a downer breaking ball that has given us fits, and just when you start sitting on that pitch, it’s a fastball that goes right by us. We had a couple of really big at-bats there, but it’s easier said than done … so I’m glad we don’t have to see him again, he’s a heck of a pitcher.”
Barr conceded two more runs in the seventh while still striking out two batters. His outing ended when freshman left-hander Slade Moore took over in the eighth, but Barr’s impact was clear. By limiting Nebraska to no extra-base hits and allowing just one walk, he kept the game within a reachable margin of two. Though Michigan couldn’t bridge the gap, Barr’s command on the mound helped stifle one of the conference’s hottest offenses in the Cornhuskers.
With his performance against Nebraska, Barr reached 105 strikeouts on the season and 256 career-wide. Even in an unusual relief role, Barr once again proved why he has been the Wolverines’ most dependable arm all season long.
