Jonathan Engelmann scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch with two out in the eighth inning, and Michigan defeated Minnesota 3-2 on Thursday hours after Gophers pitching coach Todd Oakes died following a four-year battle with leukemia.
Austin Athmann’s RBI single had given the Gophers (34-20) a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth. Michael Brdar singled leading off the bottom half and pitcher Dalton Sawyer (7-6) committed an error on Engelmann’s sacrifice bunt. Jordan Jess relieved, and Bruder scored the tying run on Jake Bivens’ one-out single.
After Cody Bruder struck out with the bases loaded, Jess’ wild pitch brought in Engelmann.