The Illinois baseball team traveled to Michigan on Friday facing what first baseman Matt Dittman called an identity crisis, with two home losses to rival Indiana still lingering in the back oftheir minds. But after taking two of three games in Ann Arbor, Mich., Dittman said the crisis is over.

“It feels great to go into Ann Arbor and pull out two victories,” Dittman said. “It definitely felt good to come back and play like ourselves.”

The Illini are tied for third in the Big Ten after winning the weekend series against Michigan (19-13, 4-5 Big Ten). Illinois (21-8, 6-3) won games Saturday and Sunday after losing the series opener, 4-2, on Friday night, despite an impressive pitching performance from sophomore Phil Haig. The lefty, who just recently made a comeback after spending a week sidelined with a groin injury, seemed to be back in form after struggling in his last start.

“I was pleased with Phil,” said Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb. “He seemed like he was back to being himself (Friday).”

Senior pitcher Chris Fetter went the full nine innings and recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts in picking up his fifth win of the season for the Wolverines, who used hits from freshman John Lorenz and senior Kevin Cislo to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the second. The Illini tied it up in the fourth inning with a two-run double from Dittman, who finished the weekend 6-for-11 with four RBIs, but it would not be enough.

“A lot of it had to do with confidence,” Dittman said of his offensive output. “I got a big hit last weekend against Indiana, and the confidence from that just carried over.”

Saturday afternoon, a five-run sixth inning propelled the Illini to a 10-8 win. Senior center fielder Joe Bonadonna batted 3-for-5 with four RBIs for Illinois, and Dittman went 2-for-3 and added two RBIs himself. The Illini trailed 4-0 after three innings, but a Bonadonna single keyed a three-run fourth inning for the Orange and Blue. Bonadonna batted 4-for-12 with six RBIs in the series.

“We needed a senior leader to step up, and I kind of took liberty there,” Bonadonna said. “I’ve been struggling all year, but I really kind of broke out with (Saturday’s) game.”

A Dittman home run in the fifth inning and doubles from Bonadonna and fellow senior Dominic Altobelli in the sixth put the final seven runs on the board for Illinois. Sophomore Lee Zerrusen was awarded the win, and freshman Will Strack recorded the save. Hartleb said he was impressed with Zerrusen’s performance. The right-hander entered the game in the second after starter Ben Reeser was substituted due to back pain.

“Lee gave us the opportunity to win,” Hartleb said. “We made a couple errors behind him out there, but he worked his way out of the jams.”

In Sunday’s finale, Illinois again erased an early deficit to defeat the Wolverines 11-5. Freshman pitcher Bryan Roberts was credited with the win for the Illini after starting the game and throwing six solid innings. Senior Aaron Martin picked up his second save of the year.

Junior first baseman Mike Dufek doubled right out of the gates to put Michigan in front 2-0 after one inning of play, but singles from Illinois freshman Willie Argo highlighted both a three-run second inning and a two-run fourth inning, giving the Illini a 5-3 lead entering the fifth. Argo hit 4-for-5 Sunday with three RBIs.

“Each day we’ve had somebody new step up,” Hartleb said. “(Sunday), Argo stepped up and got some big hits after struggling in the first two games.”

Dufek, who batted 2-for-4 with four RBIs on the afternoon, homered in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at five, but Illinois regained the lead in the seventh thanks to a single by junior shortstop Brandon Wikoff and did not look back after that.

Hartleb said his team showed its toughness and grit in both victories.

“Friday night’s game was disappointing,” Hartleb said. “But it was huge to turn around and find ways to win. We were down in both games right away, but our guys didn’t let it bother them. They played hard the whole weekend.”