The Big Ten baseball season is in the home stretch as teams attempt to position themselves for the conference tournament, as well as a shot at the College World Series tournament. A pair of doubleheaders dotted the conference landscape on friday night and only one team is squaring off against a squad from outside the Big Ten. Foul weather might be the biggest opponent in terms of getting games played this weekend as four series, taking place in four different states all had their plans change thanks to rain.
Michigan State (22-17, 6-8) at Northwestern (17-24, 6-8)
Neither the Spartans or the Hawkeyes are really anywhere near in the running for the Big Ten baseball conference crown but this series could have some implications when it comes to seeding for the tournament. This is one of the quartet of series that was moved because of weather. The two teams split the Friday double-header with Michigan State winning the first game 8-1 and Northwestern taking the night cap 3-2. If there was a standout in this series it was Spartans pitcher Alex Troop who improved to 6-3 on the season thanks to seven innings of one-run ball in their victory.
Michigan (31-10, 7-6) at Rutgers (16-23, 5-5)
This matchup features the big upset of the night, as a struggling Rutgers team managed to dominate the 17th ranked Michigan Wolverines, 12-5.
While Michigan has not been as dominant in conference as they have been out of conference, this is a stunning setback for a team hoping to host a regional. UM fans are praying for a bounce back the rest of the weekend.
Saint Louis (24-15, 7-6 in Atlantic 10) at Purdue (24-18, 9-6)
The Purdue Boilermakers continued their dream season on Friday night as they toppled non-conference opponent Saint Louis, 5-2.
The Boilermakers have been getting noticed on the national stage simply because of how long it’s been since they were considered even mediocre. Purdue sits just three games out of first place in the Big Ten baseball standings and has now won six straight games.
Illinois (16-23, 3-10) at Minnesota (25-12, 9-4)
The Golden Gophers moved another half-game closer to first place Maryland thanks to Minnesota’s 5-4 win over lowly Illinois and the Terapins’ rain out.
The Gophers started the season as the king of the hill in the Big Ten baseball standings but they’ve struggled a bit of late. The Friday win does mark the team’s second straight win while Illinois is just playing out the string.
Penn State (14-28, 2-12) at Iowa (26-15, 8-6)
No team benefitted more from Friday’s games than the Iowa Hawkeyes who swept a pair of contests from last place Penn State. The Hawkeyes are currently the sixth seed in the conference and managed to take a half-game lead over Michigan with the 4-2 and 8-2 victories.
Suspended Big Ten baseball games
Two games got started on Friday night but will have to be finished on Saturday. The Nebraska Cornhuskers opened up a big 5-2 lead on the Ohio State Buckeyes as the Huskers look to keep pace with the top of the conference. The game between Maryland and Indiana was also suspended in the third inning, though that contest was a scoreless tie.
