Michigan
Illinois
Michigan Done In by Illini Comeback
5/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 20, 2016
» Despite the loss, freshman Ako Thomas and senior Cody Bruder both went 3-for-4 with a walk in the outing.
» The series is tied at 1-1 going into the final contest on Saturday, which has only happened two times for the Wolverines this season.
Site: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Score: Illinois 11, Michigan 8
Records: U-M (35-18, 13-10 Big Ten), ILL (27-23, 11-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 21 -- at Illinois (Champaign, Ill.), 3:30 p.m. CDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Despite a garnering a 7-2 lead through the first five innings, the University of Michigan baseball team dropped an 11-8 contest to the Illinois Fighting Illini to tie the final regular-season series at 1-1 on Friday night (May 20) at Illinois Field.
After two scoreless innings of play, Michigan scored first in the top of the third inning, combining for three runs on two hits, two walks and an Illinois error. Sophomore Jake Bivens jumpstarted the scoring for Michigan in the at-bat after patiently earning a two-out walk and advancing to second on the following outfield single from freshman Ako Thomas. With two outs and two men on, it was senior Cody Bruder who came up with the clutch two-RBI double to left-centerfield. Sophomore Drew Lugbauer then followed with another walk, and junior Harrison Wenson reached on an infield error that allowed Bruder to score from second and force a 3-0 Michigan lead.
A leadoff single and a two-run homer in the bottom of the same inning put Illinois within one, but sophomore starter Oliver Jaskie responded by striking out the side.
The fourth inning was quiet for both teams, but Michigan came out in the top of the fifth inning to score four runs on four hits for a five-run lead. Bivens led off the outing with a triple to left-centerfield, and an RBI double from Thomas scored him to put Michigan up, 4-2. Bruder then followed with a single to put runners on the corners, and a sac fly from Lugbauer scored Thomas to go up by three. With Bruder still on first, Wenson blasted his eighth homer of the season with a two-run shot over the left-field wall to end the scoring with a 7-2 lead.
Despite being down by five in the bottom of the sixth, the Fighting Illini rallied for four runs on three hits and a Michigan error to come within one but scored another in the seventh on two hits and two walks to tie the game.
With the score tied at 7-7 in the eighth, the Illini rallied for four runs on four hits and two hit batters to force an 11-7 lead.
Down by four in the top of the ninth, four walks allowed Thomas to score, but three strikeouts ended the game with Michigan down, 11-8.
Overall, the Wolverines tallied 10 hits in the contest, walking six times. Both Thomas and Bruder went 3-for-4 with a walk in the outing.
Jaskie started the game on the mound for Michigan, tossing five complete innings and giving up just five hits. The lefty struck out eight and walked three in the no decision.
Juniors Keith Lehmann and Mac Lozer then combined to pitch the sixth inning, surrendering a combined four runs on three hits and two walks, while sophomore Ryan Nutof and freshman William Tribucher tossed an inning apiece to close out the game. The bullpen surrendered nine runs, walking four and hitting four. Nutof was credited with the loss.
Michigan and Illinois will wrap up the final regular-season series with a single game on Saturday (May 21). First pitch for the series finale is set for 3:30 p.m. CDT at Illinois Field in Champaign.
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt
