MINNEAPOLIS — The first pitch from Michigan sophomore left-hander Brett Adcock was one better served with a cup of coffee.

Taking the field for this morning’s 9:03 a.m. CDT first pitch, it didn’t take the Wolverines long to show there would be no concern of haggardness nor lack of energy for their Big Ten tournament opener.

In the game’s second at-bat, Indiana shortstop Nick Ramos sent a screaming line drive to the right center gap. On the run, with his back toward home, Michigan senior centerfielder Jackson Glines made an over-the-shoulder driving grab.

From there, Michigan executed in every aspect, opening its tournament run with a 4-1 win against Indiana, improving to 34-23 on the year.

“It woke me up quickly,” Glines said. “The adrenaline was definitely there when I hit the ground.”

Glines’ catch was one of many strong efforts from Wolverines today as part of a complete game.

“Pitching, defense, timely hitting, that’s what’s needed in tournament baseball, those are the story lines for today,” U-M coach Erik Bakich said.

Pitching on three days’ rest, Adcock did not allow a hit until a fifth-inning leadoff double. But Adcock worked around potential danger, stranding the runner at third.

Scattering three hits over 6 1/3 innings, Adcock conceded just one run, improving to 9-4 on the year.

“It’s the evolution of him over the course of the year,” Bakich said. “Before, adversity like that would cause inning to unfold where it’s a double, a walk, another walk, a hit and before you know it, it’s multiple-run inning.

“As the year has progress, he’s been able to find his focal point, get locked back in on making quality pitches.”

Adcock walked four batters, including the first two of the sixth inning before again escaping trouble. Able to find the necessary pitch to leave the fifth and sixth innings unscathed, Adcock tipped his cap to the team behind him.

“The defense definitely picked me up, there was a lot of quality defense behind us,” the Kawkawlin sophomore said.

With a strong start and stellar defense, all Michigan needed offensively was one big blast.

In the bottom of the second, sophomore rightfielder Johnny Slater turned around a hanging breaking ball from Indiana starter Luke Harrison for a two-out, three-run home run to rightfield. Like Adcock has over the season, Slater showed his growth.

“For him, it has been making a commitment to the weight room, nutrition, to becoming a baseball player instead of a guy who plays baseball with tools,” Bakich said. “You see the physicality, his body is totally different, he’s a lot more physical a lot stronger.”

Also leading Michigan offensively was Glines, with a 3-for-4 day, and sophomore designated hitter Carmen Benedetti went 2-for-4 with a sixth-inning double driving in a conference-leading 66th run.

Michigan, a No. 3 seed, advances to take on No. 2 Iowa at 6 p.m. Thursday. With a more traditional starting time, expect nothing to change for the Wolverines.

“We have nothing to lose,” Glines said. “We go out there and play as hard as we can.”