June 26, 2019 at 07:47PM
OMAHA, Neb. -- Michigan's baseball team has battled injuries all season, with senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr being the only player to appear in all 71 games.
The Wolverines will have to overcome another one as they head into Wednesday's Game 3 winner-take-all College World Series championship against No. 2 Vanderbilt in Omaha, Nebraska.
Leadoff hitter and designated hitter Jordan Nwogu strained his left quad running to first base in Tuesday's 4-1 loss, according to head coach Erik Bakich.
Ann Arbor's Jordan Nwogu looks to bring College World Series title home
The Pioneer High graduate is one win away from winning a national championship with Michigan's baseball team.
Bakich didn't officially rule Nwogu out for Wednesday, but the sophomore announced via Twitter that he will be in the dugout as the team looks to win the program's first national championship since 1962.
"I'll be fine," wrote Nwogu, who was on crutches after the game. "One man goes down and it's the next man up. I'm gonna be the best cheerleader I can be for my team tomorrow. Let's bring this thing home. Go blue!"
The walk-on has been one of the team's most impactful players this season, batting .321 with 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and 58 runs. His .435 on-base percentage leads the team.
"He is the spark plug at the top of the lineup , but the thing we are so confident about is, we have guys on the bench chopping at the bit waiting for their number to be called," Michigan catcher Joe Donovan said. "They will be ready."
Bakich said either senior Miles Lewis, junior Dominic Clementi or freshman Riley Bertram will serve as the DH Wednesday against Vanderbilt's probable starter, righty Mason Hickman. Clementi, an All-Big Ten first-team honoree last season, replaced Nwogu on Tuesday but was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts.
Michigan can't close out Vanderbilt in College World Series final; Game 3 WednesdayNo. 2 Vanderbilt staved off elimination, beating Michigan 4-1 Tuesday at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. He also has battled injuries this season and is hitting just .195 with one home run in 87 at-bats.
Lewis has started 59 games but has just one at-bat since June 2. He is batting .265 with four home runs, 16 doubles and 31 RBIs.
Bakich said he is leaning toward starting Bertram, who is batting .400 in 17 at-bats. The shortstop has seven hits in 13 at-bats during the NCAA Tournament.
"He's been a spark throughout this postseason," Bakich said of Bertram. "A guy like Miles Lewis could do it and has done it all year. He's got 200-something at-bats and 16 doubles and had a lot of clutch hits. "I think what we'll do is watch a lot of film tonight and tomorrow and just see the matchup with Hickman and what seems to fit best, whether it's a right-hander like Miles Lewis, switch-hitter like Bertram or just a left-hander like Dominic."
OMAHA, Neb. -- Michigan's baseball team has battled injuries all season, with senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr being the only player to appear in all 71 games.
The Wolverines will have to overcome another one as they head into Wednesday's Game 3 winner-take-all College World Series championship against No. 2 Vanderbilt in Omaha, Nebraska.
Leadoff hitter and designated hitter Jordan Nwogu strained his left quad running to first base in Tuesday's 4-1 loss, according to head coach Erik Bakich.
Ann Arbor's Jordan Nwogu looks to bring College World Series title home
The Pioneer High graduate is one win away from winning a national championship with Michigan's baseball team.
Bakich didn't officially rule Nwogu out for Wednesday, but the sophomore announced via Twitter that he will be in the dugout as the team looks to win the program's first national championship since 1962.
"I'll be fine," wrote Nwogu, who was on crutches after the game. "One man goes down and it's the next man up. I'm gonna be the best cheerleader I can be for my team tomorrow. Let's bring this thing home. Go blue!"
The walk-on has been one of the team's most impactful players this season, batting .321 with 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and 58 runs. His .435 on-base percentage leads the team.
"He is the spark plug at the top of the lineup , but the thing we are so confident about is, we have guys on the bench chopping at the bit waiting for their number to be called," Michigan catcher Joe Donovan said. "They will be ready."
Bakich said either senior Miles Lewis, junior Dominic Clementi or freshman Riley Bertram will serve as the DH Wednesday against Vanderbilt's probable starter, righty Mason Hickman. Clementi, an All-Big Ten first-team honoree last season, replaced Nwogu on Tuesday but was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts.
Michigan can't close out Vanderbilt in College World Series final; Game 3 WednesdayNo. 2 Vanderbilt staved off elimination, beating Michigan 4-1 Tuesday at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. He also has battled injuries this season and is hitting just .195 with one home run in 87 at-bats.
Lewis has started 59 games but has just one at-bat since June 2. He is batting .265 with four home runs, 16 doubles and 31 RBIs.
Bakich said he is leaning toward starting Bertram, who is batting .400 in 17 at-bats. The shortstop has seven hits in 13 at-bats during the NCAA Tournament.
"He's been a spark throughout this postseason," Bakich said of Bertram. "A guy like Miles Lewis could do it and has done it all year. He's got 200-something at-bats and 16 doubles and had a lot of clutch hits. "I think what we'll do is watch a lot of film tonight and tomorrow and just see the matchup with Hickman and what seems to fit best, whether it's a right-hander like Miles Lewis, switch-hitter like Bertram or just a left-hander like Dominic."