Late-Inning Heroics Lead Michigan Past EMU

Tuesday, April 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:30 PM

Michigan

23-8

Eastern Michigan

10-23

Eastern

Michigan

4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Baseball Complex at Fisher Stadium)
Score: Michigan 5, Eastern Michigan 3
Record: Michigan (23-8, 11-1 Big Ten), Eastern Michigan (10-23, 7-2 MAC)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, April 16 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 3:05 p. m.

Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team used a pair of ninth inning home runs en route to a 5-3 come-from-behind win against Eastern Michigan Tuesday evening (April 15) at the Wilpon Baseball Complex, home to Ray Fisher Stadium.

Senior 1B/C Nate Recknagel(Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) launched a game-winning, two-run home run to close the competition -- the first walk-off homer of his baseball career. Junior SS Jason Christian(Loveland, Ohio/Loveland HS) finished the contest with three hits and a pair of RBI, including a solo homer to tie the game with one out earlier in the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Christian launched a solo homerun deep to right, lifting a curveball over the fence to deadlock the two teams at 3-3. The round-tripper marked the shortstop's fourth four-bagger of the season and the 11th of his career.

Recknagel replicated Christian's heroics, crushing a walk-off homerun -- the first of his baseball career -- over the wall in right field to seal the come-from-behind victory, 5-3. With the two-run blast, the catcher improved his Big Ten lead in the category with his 12th homerun of the season.

Michigan (23-8, 11-1 Big Ten) grabbed the early lead, tallying one run in the team's first plate appearance. Eagle starter Tim Combs plunked fifth-year senior 2B Leif Mahler(Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), and the U-M tri-captain advanced two bases on an infield error and a passed ball. Mahler continued home following a wild pitch, claiming the initial advantage 1-0. Mahler currently ranks second on the team with 28 runs this season.

The Eagles evened the competition in the top of the second inning, however, as Zack Leonard hit a solo shot over the 24-foot wall in left field to level the game at 1-1.

U-M reclaimed the advantage with one run in the home half of the second inning. Freshman CF Ryan LaMarre(Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi HS) laced a single to left field, placing runners on first and second. Christian, the next batter in the box, connected for a base hit to right field, driving in sophomore RF Alan Oaks(White Lake, Mich./Divine Child HS), who was hit by a pitch, pushing the score to 2-1.

The Wolverine edge was quickly negated, as the Eagles collected one mark in the top of the third. EMU generated a double and a base hit to record the run, placing the teams in a stalemate, 2-2.

EMU surpassed the Wolverines in the top of the fourth inning, garnering the team's first advantage, 3-2. After loading the bases on two hits and a walk, a wild pitch brought home Matt Skirving. However, Michigan went to the bullpen and called on junior LHP Mike Wilson(Pickering, Ontario/Pine Ridge Secondary).

Wilson came in and set down Steve Bradshaw looking on a called third strike to end the threat with the bases loaded. Wilson pitched the final 5.1 innings for his second win of the season, as the junior gave up only one hit and struck out five.

The Michigan offense threatened to tie the game following the seventh-inning stretch, loading the bases with one out. Christian slipped a grounder through the right side and hustled to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. Mahler was hit by a pitch and Recknagel walked to place Wolverine runners on all three bases, but EMU reliever Sean Hoffman struck out two consecutive batters to escape unscathed.

Wilson sent down the Eagles 1-2-3 in the ninth inning, but the Wolverines entered their final at-bat trailing 3-2.

The Wolverines close a two-game series with the Eagles Wednesday afternoon (April 16) at Ray Fisher Field inside the Wilpon Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m.

Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423