Michigan
31-16, 0
Illinois
29-16, 0
Offense Stifled as Michigan Falls to Illinois
5/12/2018 6:22:00 PM | Baseball
» All four of Michigan's hits were doubles.
» The Wolverines did not put a man on base until the fifth inning and picked up its first hit in the sixth.
» Illinois led by 10 runs before Michigan scored its first run in the bottom of the sixth.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Illinois 10, Michigan 4
Records: U-M (31-16, 14-5 Big Ten), ILL (29-16, 13-8 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 13 -- vs. Illinois (Wilpon Complex), noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team suffered its second straight loss to Illinois on Saturday afternoon (May 12) after the Wolverines dropped a 10-4 decision at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. The loss allowed the Illini to clinch the weekend series.
The Maize and Blue totaled just four hits in the effort, all of which were doubles. Illinois limited Michigan's free passes with just three walks and two hit batters.
Neither team scored in the first inning, but a two-run home run gave Illinois a lead in the top of the second. With Michigan unable to score through the first five innings, the Illini extended their lead to 10-0 with additional runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
Michigan put its first runner on base in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Jesse Franklin was hit by pitch, but the Wolverines did not score until the bottom of the sixth. With one out in the sixth inning, redshirt freshman Harrison Salter picked up Michigan's first hit of the day with a double down the right-field line, and freshman Jack Blomgren was hit by a pitch to give the Wolverines two baserunners. A wild pitch allowed Salter and Blomgren to advance a base, and an RBI groundout from junior Ako Thomas put the Wolverines on the board.
Michigan added a run in the bottom of the seventh and rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth on RBI from junior Jonathan Engelmann and freshman Jordan Nwogu, but the Illinois lead was too much to overcome.
Freshman Angelo Smith and redshirt sophomore Benjamin Keizer worked to hold the Illini scoreless for the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. The pair did not allow a hit through a combined 3.1 innings pitched.
The loss marks Michigan's third series loss of the season and second in Big Ten play.
Michigan (31-16, 14-5 Big Ten) and Illinois (28-16, 13-7 Big Ten) will wrap up the weekend series on Sunday (May 13) at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for noon, and fans can watch the game live on the Big Ten Network.
Cuisine from local food trucks will be available in the parking lot beginning at 11 a.m., and the first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative senior day fan clapper. Michigan's Senior Day ceremony will begin at approximately 11:45 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fisher, Andy (5-2)
L: Dragani, Ben (6-1)
Batting:
2B: Massey, Michael 1 ; Turchin, Doran 1 ; Yalowitz, Jack 1
HR: Taylor, Zac 1 ; Van Scoy, Grant 1
RBI: Taylor, Zac 3 ; Massey, Michael 2 ; Van Scoy, Grant 5
SH: Yalowitz, Jack 1 ; Craan, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylor, Zac 1 ; Troike, Ben 1 ; Spillane, Bren 1 ; Michalak, Michael 1 ; Turchin, Doran 2 ; Yalowitz, Jack 1 ; Van Scoy, Grant 2 ; Craan, David 1
SB: Yalowitz, Jack 1
CS: Spillane, Bren 1
HBP: Troike, Ben 1 ; Spillane, Bren 1 ; Michalak, Michael 1
Batting:
2B: Clementi, Dominic 1 ; Engelmann, Jonathan 1 ; Franklin, Jesse 1 ; Salter, Harrison 1
RBI: Thomas, Ako 1 ; Engelmann, Jonathan 1 ; Nwogu, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clementi, Dominic 1 ; Engelmann, Jonathan 2 ; Salter, Harrison 1
CS: Nwogu, Jordan 1
HBP: Franklin, Jesse 1 ; Blomgren, Jack 1
