Wolverines Tripped Up at Home by Michigan State

Saturday, April 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:05 PM

Michigan

20-16, 0

Michigan State

14-21, 0

Michigan State

Michigan

4/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Baseball Complex)
Result: Michigan State 3, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (20-16, 4-7 Big Ten), Michigan State (14-21, 5-6 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 19 -- at Michigan State (Kobs Field), 1:05 p.m.

Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR, Mich.-- On a day when Michigan retired former Wolverine great Jim Abbott's No. 31, the University of Michigan men's baseball team provided little run support for junior pitcher Alan Oaks(White Lake, Mich./Divine Child) in his first career start, a 3-1 loss to Michigan State on Saturday afternoon (April 18) at the Wilpon Baseball Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Oaks took the hard-luck loss after lasting a career-high seven-and-two-thirds innings and allowing just three runs on five hits as the Maize and Blue stranded 14 runners over the nine-inning affair. Sophomore catcher Chris Berset(Vienna, Va./Heights School) was a bright spot for Michigan at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and the lone RBI of the game.

Scoreless through two, the Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when a balk by Oaks allowed Jeff Holm to score from third for the first run of the game.

The Wolverines responded in the bottom of the frame, tying the score at 1-1 on Berset's RBI single. Junior rightfielder Nick Urban(Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before Berset connected for U-M's first hit -- a groundball between first and second.

With the score still tied, 1-1, in the top of the fifth inning, the Spartans managed to string together a walk and three hits, highlighted by an RBI double from rightfielder Eli Boike to take a 3-1 lead.

Michigan brought the tying run to the plate in each of the final four innings but was unable to push anyone across, stranding six runners, including a pair in the ninth that gave MSU the 3-1 win.

The Maize and Blue will try to avoid its first Big Ten sweep of the season as the team heads back to Kobs Field in East Lansing, Mich., on Sunday (April 19) for the third and final game in its series against Michigan State. First pitch between the Wolverines and Spartans is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423