COLUMBUS — In Dylan Vigue’s last three outings for the Michigan baseball team, he hasn’t been on the mound for more than two innings and has recorded just two strikeouts. But in Game 2 against Ohio State, the Wolverines turned to the sophomore right-hander searching for stability on the mound. Vigue led Michigan through five innings, recorded five strikeouts and allowed zero runs.
Not only did Vigue secure the series win with his appearance on Sunday, he also earned his first win in 2025 and showed hints of the pitcher that the Wolverines expect him to be.
“(Vigue) did his job,” Michigan pitching coach Brock Huntzinger said. “He did a great job of minimizing the damage. With his stuff, he’s a ground ball away from a double play at any point.”
Vigue entered the competition in the bottom of the fourth inning and undertook a diamond with the bases loaded and no outs. In the past, this scenario has resulted in a flustered Vigue who has struggled to maintain his composure in high-pressure situations. Instead of floundering, though, Vigue rose to the occasion and let up just one of the runs he inherited.
While Vigue certainly hurls an aggressive fastball, his initial success was largely due to the dependable infielders behind him. Against the first batter he faced, Vigue threw two quick strikes before falling behind in the count — a sequence that occurred multiple times throughout the remainder of the competition. But on the payoff pitch, Vigue induced soft contact and forced a ground ball to graduate first baseman Jeter Ybarra who threw home and secured the first out of the inning.
Vigue earned the second out in the same manner as the first — a ground ball deftly handled by his infielders. Clearly more comfortable with two down, Vigue then made quick work of the Buckeyes second baseman Tyler Pettorini. Just three pitches later, Vigue bounded confidently off the mound and into the dugout, more than ready to lead Michigan through four more innings.
“I was just trying to get out of the inning, and limit the damage as much as possible and keep the team in a position to win and come back,” Vigue said. “Defensively there were some great plays behind me and we got out of there with minimal damage.”
Two other arms took the mound for the Wolverines in Game 2: junior right-hander David Lally Jr. captained the first three innings while junior right-hander Brandon Mann closed out the final frame. And although Lally wavered slightly throughout the competition, he showed the composure of an experienced hurler.
In the third inning, Lally battered with the Buckeyes’ offense and fell victim to their bats just three times, as a home-run and two ground balls brought home three Ohio State runs. And while the inning seemed that it would stretch on endlessly, Lally maintained control. Lally showed the tenacity that all three pitchers were required to maintain as both Vigue and Mann worked from behind throughout the competition.
“We stuck to the game plan,” Huntzinger said. “We said we were going to come out here, throw strikes, compete in the zone, add and subtract and just make them put the bat on the ball.”
Vigue wasn’t set up for success initially in his outing against the Buckeyes. In the past, the sight of him on the mound in such a situation may have spelled disaster for the Wolverines. Instead though, Vigue utilized Sunday’s competition as a chance to prove to his team, and himself, that he can be a stabilizing rather than volatile arm on the mound.
