ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan held a 5-0 lead by the end of the second inning Saturday and finished off a 7-0 win over the Illinois baseball team. The Illini were held to one hit by three Michigan pitchers.
Michigan (25-6, 6-2 Big Ten) retired 19 straight Illini to end the game. Starter Ryan Nutof (6.0 IP, 1 H) and relief men Jayce Vancena (2.0 IP, 0 H) and Jack Bredeson (1.0 IP, 0 H) combined on the one-hitter.
It was Michigan's ninth straight win and third shutout of the season. Nutof (3-1) won for the third time.
Illinois (10-18, 0-5 Big Ten) had its only hit come from senior Trent Hammond on a third-inning double. The Illini had the bases loaded in the third after freshman Ben Troike and sophomore Casey Dodge walked, but could not push a run across. Dodge was the last baserunner the Illini had all day.
Ako Thomas (4-5, RBI, 2 SB) and Johnny Slater (3-4, RBI, 2 SB) led Michigan at the top of the order. The No. 1-2 hitters combined to go 7 for 9 and steal four bases. Seven of Michigan's nine starters had at least one hit.
Illinois struck out only four times and drew four walks. The problem was a lot of soft contact and balls in the air on a day when the wind was blowing straight in from left field.
Freshman Ty Weber (2-3) took the loss in five innings, while giving up five runs on 10 hits. Senior Matthew James allowed two runs in 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, before sophomore Zak Devermann finished the eighth with two straight outs.
The Illini finish the series Sunday against Michigan at 12 p.m. CT. Freshman Cyrillo Watson is expected to get the first Big Ten start of his career.
