Keener's Eighth-Inning Triple Propels U-M to Win over EMU

Tuesday, May 1

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

26-13

Eastern Michigan

16-25

Eastern Michigan

Michigan

Keener's Eighth-Inning Triple Propels U-M to Win over EMU

5/1/2018 11:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» A base-clearing triple from Brock Keener gave Michigan the lead in the bottom of the eighth.
» Jack Weisenburger earned his first career win with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
» Michigan and Eastern Michigan will wrap up the home-and-home series with a game at EMU on Wednesday (May 2).

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Michigan 6, Eastern Michigan 4
Records: U-M (26-13), EMU (16-25)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, May 2 -- at Eastern Michigan (Ypsilanti, Mich.), 6 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A bases-loaded triple by senior Brock Keener in the bottom of the eighth inning propelled the University of Michigan baseball team to a 6-4 win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday (May 1) in the first game of a home-and-home series at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The Wolverines trailed, 4-2, going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but used a late rally to take the lead on just one swing by from Keener to give Michigan a 5-4 lead. A sacrifice flyout from Jack Blomgren followed and allowed Keener to race home for a two-run edge.

The Eagles threatened in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded, but a big strikeout from sophomore reliever Jack Weisenburger ended the inning and sent Michigan back to the dugout. He also tossed a perfect 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game.

Weisenburger finished the day with 1.2 innings of relief and earned his first career win. The righty struck out three and walked one without surrendering a hit.

Keener led Michigan with three RBI on one hit. He entered the game in the bottom of the second as a pinch-runner after freshman Joe Donovan left the game due to injury on a base hit that marked the Wolverines' first of the day.

Neither team scored in the first, but Eastern Michigan took a one-run lead in the top of the second inning on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.

The Eagles extended their lead to three with two more runs in the top of the third, but a leadoff single from Donovan and an RBI groundout by junior Ako Thomas put the Wolverines on the board in the bottom of the frame.

Eastern Michigan added a run in its next at-bat following back-to-back doubles, and maintained a 4-1 lead until the Wolverines scored one in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Jonathan Engelmann led off the inning with a single through the right side, and quickly stole second before a throwing error allowed him to take third. A walk to sophomore Dominic Clementi then gave Michigan runners on the corners, and an infield single by freshman Jordan Nwogu allowed Engelmann to score and bring the Wolverines within two.

Tweet of the Game

LET'S GOOOOOOOOO!! pic.twitter.com/Gtj2R7VE9w
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) May 2, 2018

Michigan (26-13) and Eastern Michigan will wrap up the home-and-home series on Wednesday (May 2) with a game at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.