Franklin's Career Day Pushes Michigan Past Central Michigan

Wednesday, March 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

13-11

Central Michigan

7-17-1

Central Michigan

Michigan

Franklin's Career Day Pushes Michigan Past Central Michigan

3/28/2018 10:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» The win is Michigan's ninth straight overall and eighth straight at home.
» Freshman Jesse Franklin had a career day with three hits and four RBI.
» Sophomore Christan Bullock tied his career high with three hits.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 8, Central Michigan 5
Records: U-M (13-11), CMU (7-17-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 30 -- vs. Delaware (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team picked up its ninth straight victory on Wednesday night (March 28) as the Wolverines defeated Central Michigan, 8-5, at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The Wolverines took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning, which featured three runs on three hits and included three Central Michigan pitching changes.

Michigan put runners on base in all but one inning and totaled 12 hits while leaving 12 on base. Of the team's 12 hits, just one went for extra bases -- a home run by freshman Jesse Franklin in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Central Michigan struck first in the top of the second inning to go up by one run on a single, a wild pitch and two sacrifice bunts, but Michigan tied things up in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from sophomore Christan Bullock that scored freshman Jordan Nwogu.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, another run-scoring single from Bullock gave Michigan a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth, and the home run by Franklin in the bottom of the sixth extended the Wolverine lead to two.

The Chippewas tied the score at 3 with two runs in the top of the seventh, but Michigan answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead back, 6-3. Junior Jonathan Engelmann got the rally started with a one-out single to left field, and quickly stole second base before advancing to third on a wild pitch. A walk to junior Blake Nelson put runners on the corners and forced a CMU pitching change. Redshirt-junior Miles Lewis walked to load the bases. Franklin then roped a base hit through the left side to score Engelmann and give Michigan the lead, which forced the Chippewas to make a second call to the bullpen. With the bases still loaded, Nwogu reached on a fielder's choice that scored Nelson but resulted in an out at second base to put two outs on the board. A third pitching change followed, and Michigan pinch-hitter Dominic Clementi responded with a first-pitch single through the right side that scored Lewis for a 6-3 lead.

Michigan added two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run base hit by Franklin, which marked his fourth run batted in of the day.

The Chippewas got two runs back in the top of the ninth, but junior pitcher William Tribucher let the defense work and the Wolverines were able to hold on for an 8-5 victory.

Franklin led the Wolverines with a career-high four RBI on the day, including the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh. He also totaled a career-high three hits.

Bullock also recorded a multi-hit effort and tied his career high with three hits, while Nwogu added two hits. Nelson led the Maize and Blue with two runs scored.

Junior righty Troy Miller started on the mound for the Wolverines and tossed two scheduled innings to start the day before freshman Angelo Smith entered the game for a career-high four innings of work. As the pitcher of record in the seventh inning, freshman Jeff Criswell earned the win for Michigan with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Tweet of the Game

Nine in a row. #goblue pic.twitter.com/ZqLFBpa6K6
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) March 28, 2018

Michigan will return to play on Friday (March 30) for a three-day, four-game series against Delaware. First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]