Michigan topped Illinois in its Big Ten Tournament opener. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)AP

A hot start for Michigan’s baseball team late Thursday night helped lead to a pivotal victory early Friday morning in its Big Ten Tournament opener against Illinois.

First pitch between the two teams at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska was at 11:54 p.m. – the latest start in the ballpark’s history – and the fifth-seeded Wolverines had a 2-0 lead before the clock struck midnight. Although the No. 4-seeded Fighting Illini battled back to tie the game on two separate occasions, Michigan took the lead for good in the eighth inning and prevailed for a 7-5 win.

It advances to face No. 1 seed Maryland on Friday, while Illinois will play No. 8 seed Indiana in an elimination game.

The Wolverines, who need to win the conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Joey Velazquez’s third hit of the game – a sharp single to right field – scored the go-ahead run. Two battlers later, Clark Elliott, a top MLB draft prospect, singled in another run.

Catcher Jimmy Obertop gave Michigan some more cushion with an RBI single in the ninth. The team needed it as Illinois threatened in the bottom of the inning. Cameron Weston hit the leadoff batter, and the Fighting Illini brought the tying run to the plate with two outs after a Cam McDonald single drove in a run.

Weston threw three straight balls to the next hitter but battled back to get Ryan Hampe to ground out to end the game.

The conference tournament was scheduled to begin Wednesday, but all four opening games were moved to Thursday because of inclement weather.

Michigan and Illinois might have had to wait the longest after Maryland and Indiana went to extra innings in the previous game, but the Wolverines didn’t wait long to find the scoreboard.

Elliott, who leads the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs, led off the game with a deep home run to right-center, and graduate student outfielder Joe Stewart followed with a home run to nearly the same spot. Stewart also had two doubles and a walk.

RELATED: Transfer from MSU Joe Stewart thriving with Michigan baseball

An RBI-single from first baseman Matt Frey gave the team a 3-1 lead in the third inning before a three straight Illinois hits with two outs in the fourth inning, including two doubles, tied the game.

The tie was short-lived as Obertop’s 10th home run of the season put the Wolverines back in front.

Michigan’s pitching has struggled this season ranking 12th in the Big Ten with a 7.03 ERA, but starter Connor O’Halloran and relievers Chase Allen and Weston each pitched out of some jams to limit damage against a potent Illinois lineup.

Allen, who allowed one run on three hits in two innings, earned the win, while Weston, who allowed one run on one hit in two innings picked up the save.

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