OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Jonathan Engelmann scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch with two out in the eighth inning, and Michigan defeated Minnesota 3-2 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. Bryan Pall (3-1) got the win after relieving Oliver Jaskie, who pitched seven strong innings, and Evan Hill earned his first save. Number 5 seed Michigan (36-20) plays today against the loser of Friday’s re-scheduled game between Iowa and Ohio State. Minnesota announced the 55-year-old Oakes died Thursday morning. He was the Gophers’ pitching coach for 18 years and had recently entered hospice care.
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