Strong Pitching, Offense Not Enough in Loss at OSU

Saturday, May 14

Columbus, Ohio

3:00 PM

Michigan

34-15, 12-7

Ohio State

34-16-1, 12-8

Michigan

Ohio State

5/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 14, 2016

Keith Lehmann

» Michigan's two scoring plays came on home runs, with junior Carmen Benedetti blasting a two-run shot in the first and sophomore Drew Lugbauer picking up a solo shot in the eighth.
» For the 20th time this season, Michigan's pitching staff recorded double-digit strikeouts, as sophomore Oliver Jaskie and junior Keith Lehmann combined for 13.
» The loss marks the first time this season that Michigan has dropped three games in a row.

• Box Score

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Davis Stadium)
Score: Ohio State 7, Michigan 3
Records: U-M (34-15, 12-7 Big Ten), OSU (34-16, 12-8 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 15 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 3 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In spite of a combined 13 strikeouts from the Michigan pitching staff and home runs from both junior Carmen Benedetti and sophomore Drew Lugbauer, the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan baseball team fell by a 7-3 score to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday (May 14) at Davis Stadium. The loss is Michigan's third straight.

Michigan was the first to get its offensive going, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead. Freshman Jonathan Engelmann jumpstarted the at-bat with a one-out infield single, and Benedetti followed with a two-run blast over the right-centerfield wall for his third homer of this season.

The 2-0 lead was short lived, however, as Ohio State constructed a two-out rally in the bottom of the second with a double and an RBI single to come within one. The Buckeyes then scored two in the bottom of the third and three in the fourth on three hits and four Michigan errors, taking a 6-2 lead.

Neither team scored again until the top of the eighth, when a solo home run from Lugbauer put Michigan within three.

Junior Harrison Wenson and freshman Ako Thomas both singled in the top of the ninth, but neither scored as Michigan dropped its third straight contest, 7-3.

Sophomore lefty Oliver Jaskie started the game for Michigan, striking out seven batters in 3.2 innings pitched and surrendering three earned runs on six hits. Junior RHP Keith Lehmann relieved him in the fourth, pitching the rest of the game and striking out six more with just one hit allowed. In total, the pair combined for 13 strikeouts, marking the 20th time this season that the Wolverine pitching staff has struck out double-digit batters.

Offensively, the Wolverines out-hit the Buckeyes, 11 hits to 10 on the day. Benedetti, Lugbauer, Thomas and junior Michael Brdar all tallied two hits in the game, while three other Wolverines picked up one apiece. The Ohio state pitching staff surrendered no walks, allowing Michigan no free bases in the Saturday contest.

No. 19 Michigan and Ohio State will wrap up the Big Ten Conference series on Sunday (May 15) in Columbus, Ohio. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Buckeyes' Davis Stadium.

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt