Walkoff Wednesday: Late Rally Extends Michigan's Win Streak to Five

Wednesday, March 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

9-11

Western Michigan

9-9

Western Michigan

Michigan

Walkoff Wednesday: Late Rally Extends Michigan's Win Streak to Five

3/21/2018 9:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» U-M's walk-off win came courtesy of an Ako Thomas' single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
» Thomas and Christan Bullock recorded three hits apiece in the effort.
» Michigan extended its win streak to five games as it heads into Big Ten Conference play this weekend.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 7, Western Michigan 6
Records: U-M (9-11), WMU (9-9)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 23 -- vs. Michigan State (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball fell into an early six-run hole, but prevailed on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning from junior Ako Thomas to clinch a 7-6 victory over Western Michigan on Wednesday (March 21) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The victory extends Michigan's win streak to five games, and pushes the Wolverines to 5-1 at home this season.

Western Michigan took an early lead in the top of the first inning, as it plated three runs on four walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly. With the momentum in favor of the visitors, the Broncos added three runs in the top of the second inning to extend their lead to 6-0.

Following two scoreless innings, the Wolverines scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Western Michigan lead to one. Freshman Jack Blomgren got the rally started with a one-out walk, and back-to-back singles by juniors Thomas and Blake Nelson loaded the bases. Jonathan Engelmann roped a two-run single through the left side and put Michigan on the board. With two runners on base, senior Brock Keener reached on a two-base error, while Nelson scored on the play. Keener then took third as Engelmann was thrown out at the plate attempting to steal. A walk to and stolen base by junior Matthew Schmidt gave Michigan a pair of runners in scoring position. Sophomore Christan Bullock followed with a double to right field that plated Keener and Schmidt to make the score 6-5.

Western Michigan maintained that one-run lead until the ninth inning, though the Wolverines put runners on in every inning and had men thrown out at the plate in both the fourth and the sixth frames.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Wolverines rallied to tie the score at 6 and won the game on a walk-off single from Thomas. Keener led off the inning with a walk, and was pinch-run for by junior Jack Bredeson. A flyout and a strikeout had Michigan down to its last at-bat, but a pinch-hit walk to freshman Jordan Nwogu kept U-M alive, and a single by Lewis allowed Bredeson to score from second and tie the game. With two men still on base, a walk to Blomgren loaded the bases, and Thomas came up clutch with the game-winning hit.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Blake Beers made his first career start, but the Wolverines ended up sending seven pitchers to the mound in the effort. Freshmen Danny Zimmerman, Angelo Smith and Jeff Criswell along with juniors Troy Miller and William Tribucher combined to throw 6.2 scoreless innings of relief, and it was Tribucher who earned the win. The pitching appearance also marked Zimmerman's first as a Wolverine.

Michigan totaled 12 hits in the effort, including three-hit efforts from Thomas and Bullock. Nelson and Lewis also had multi-hit outings, while both Engelmann and Bullock knocked in two runs apiece; Bullock's two doubles marked a career-high.

With a 3-for-5 day and the game-winning hit, Thomas has reached base in 20 consecutive games.

Tweet of the Game

WALKOFF WIN! pic.twitter.com/9ULBSQ8shW
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 21, 2018

Michigan will be back in action this weekend when it hosts Michigan State in the Big Ten Conference opener. The home-and-home series will begin on Friday (March 23) at 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. Saturday's game (March 24) will take place at Michigan State, and the series finale is slated for Sunday (March 25) at the University of Michigan. [Tickets]