U-M Eliminated from B1G Tourney, Awaits Possible NCAA Selection

Saturday, May 28

Omaha, Neb.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

36-21

Ohio State

40-18-1

Michigan

Ohio State

U-M Eliminated from B1G Tourney, Awaits Possible NCAA Selection

5/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 28, 2016

» Freshman Jonathan Engelmann was the only Wolverine to tally multiple hits in the contest.
» Michigan finishes the regular season with a 36-21 overall record.
» Michigan will now await a possible NCAA selection.

• Tournament Central | Box Score | Photo Gallery

Site: Omaha, Neb. (TD Ameritrade Park)
Tournament: Big Ten Tournament (Day 3/4)
Score: Ohio State 11, Michigan 4
Records: U-M (36-21), OSU (40-18-1)
Next U-M Event: Monday, May 30 -- NCAA Selection Show (ESPNU), Noon

OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Michigan baseball team could not overcome four scoring innings by the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday (May 28), suffering an 11-4 loss in an elimination contest during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at TD Ameritrade Park. Michigan will now await a possible NCAA regional selection to keep its season alive.

With the game originally scheduled for Friday (May 27) at 7:30 p.m., inclement weather on Thursday (May 26) forced the contest to be pushed back to 9 p.m.

Michigan took to the scoreboard first on Friday, plating two runs in the top of the first inning for an early lead. Sophomore Jake Bivens and freshman Ako Thomas led off the game with back-to-back hit-by-pitches, and senior Cody Bruder followed with an outfield single to load the bases. A sac fly from sophomore Drew Lugbauer then scored Bivens and allowed Thomas to advance to third. Michigan then executed a delay steal, which allowed Thomas to cross the plate before Bruder was tagged out at second.

Despite a 2-0 lead after half an inning, Michigan surrendered five Ohio State runs in the bottom of the same inning on six hits and a Wolverine error. After a scoreless Michigan at-bat in the top of the second, however, lightning and inclement weather with one out in the bottom of the second forced a postponement until Saturday.

When play resumed on Saturday afternoon, the remainder of the second inning went scoreless, followed by a scoreless third. Ohio State then added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on two hits, a walk and two stolen bases to force a 6-2 lead.

Down by four, the Wolverines rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth inning to come within two. Junior Michael Brdar led off the inning with a walk, and freshman Jonathan Engelmann singled to give Michigan two base runners. A bunt from junior Johnny Slater then resulted in an Ohio State error and loaded the bases, and Thomas followed with the clutch RBI single to left field. With the bases still loaded, a fielder's choice up the middle allowed Engelmann to score and ended the inning for the Wolverines.

The Buckeyes answered back in the bottom of the same inning, plating three runs to take a 9-4 lead. The at-bats featured two singles, two stolen bases, a Michigan error and an overturned call by the umpiring staff that fell in favor of Ohio State.

Despite a five-run lead, the Buckeyes added two more in the bottom of the seventh to go up, 11-4. From there, Michigan was unable to score again and was eliminated from the tournament.

Of Michigan's seven hits in the contest, Engelmann was the only Wolverine to pick up two, while Bivens, Thomas, junior Carmen Benedetti, Bruder and Brdar tallied one apiece.

Through the two days of play, four Michigan pitchers appeared in the contest, surrendering a combined 18 hits. The Wolverine pitching staff totaled nine strikeouts in the contest.

Saturday's loss signaled Michigan's elimination from the Big Ten Tournament, and the Wolverines must now await a possible NCAA berth. The NCAA selection show is scheduled for noon on Monday (May 30) and will be shown live on ESPNU.

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt