Cody Bruder and Kendall Patrick hit home runs, leading Michigan to an 8-5 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night.
The third-seeded Wolverines (35-23) knocked Hawkeyes starter Blake Hickman (9-2) out of the game in the third inning. Hickman walked three of the last six batters he faced, and allowed four hits and two earned runs in the loss at Target Field for second-seeded Iowa (39-15).
Five Wolverines had at least two hits as Michigan peppered Hickman’s replacement, Ryan Erickson, with seven hits and four runs — two earned — in four innings. Bruder and Jacob Cronenworth each had three hits for Michigan, and Patrick finished with three RBIs.
Cronenworth took the mound in the ninth inning, getting two outs for the save.
Eric Toole homered for Iowa, which will play sixth-seeded Indiana on Friday. Michigan next plays on Saturday.
