The Michigan baseball team knew that Ohio State was going to be aggressive on the basepaths. In fact, it was the first thing junior catcher Will Rogers and the coaching staff talked about prior to the game. And after the Buckeyes successfully stole two bases, it looked as though the Wolverines may not have an answer for their rival’s speed and aggressiveness.

Ohio State entered Friday night’s game ranking second in the Big Ten in stolen bases with 63 on 83 attempts, while Michigan entered tied for third in baserunners caught stealing — it was a heavyweight matchup on the basepaths.

“(The Buckeyes’ aggressiveness) was the first thing we talked about in our game plan today,” Rogers said. “The coaches brought it up, these guys, that’s their game. They’re gonna try and run and keep doing it. That’s how they’ve been playing and that’s how they played today.”

Ohio State made its statement early, easily swiping a bag in the first inning after bunting for a single. The demoralizing sequence of a bunt single into a stolen base that puts a runner in scoring position forebode a long day for the Wolverines’ defense.

And the Buckeyes continued to apply pressure, swiping another bag in the second inning as Rogers’ throw came just late. As the Buckeyes kept stealing bases and taking advantage of their speed, Michigan was playing on its heels defensively.

“And then the first two, like you said unsuccessful, so a little bit upset about that,” Rogers said. “And I knew they were going to just keep doing it, keep doing it.”

Sure enough, in the third inning, Ohio State tested Rogers once more, taking off for second as sophomore right-hander Kurt Barr delivered his pitch. This time, though, Rogers was prepared. He delivered a strike down to graduate shortstop Kyle Dernedde with plenty of time to spare as Dernedde applied the tag and the maize-out crowd roared to life. In one fell swoop, Rogers collected a much-needed out and proved the Buckeyes’ fallibility on the basepaths.

But Ohio State wasn’t done testing Rogers. After a leadoff single, Buckeyes center fielder Josh Stevenson took off for second. And once again, Rogers threw a dart down to Derenedde, easily beating Stevenson to the bag and settling the stolen-base score at two apiece.

Neither squad had to wait long for the rubber match, as the very next Ohio State hitter singled to right field and subsequently attempted to swipe second. Rogers’ throw brought Dernedde off of the bag at second, but Dernedde reached behind him, tagging the runner on the back. Lost in the action, the batter was called out on strike three as well, handing Michigan the inning-ending double play.

Two hits quickly turned into three outs for the Buckeyes thanks to Rogers behind the dish. And as Ohio State’s skipper was tossed after arguing the out call at second base, the Wolverines had sufficiently captured the game’s momentum.

“I mean, you gotta have a catcher that’s talented with a good arm,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said. “Because at the catching position, you got to be able to throw people out.”

Friday night, Rogers proved that he fit Smith’s bill, providing the spark that the Wolverines needed to take down their rival for their first Friday night win of the Big Ten season. But Rogers didn’t stop with three straight caught baserunners, he solidified his mark on the game by stealing a base of his own in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Buckeyes had been aggressive all year, and it was clear that their game plan was to continue that trend against Michigan. But after the fifth inning, Ohio State didn’t attempt to steal another base — not with Rogers behind the dish.