Wolverines Drop Series Opener at Rutgers

Friday, May 4

Piscataway, N.J.

2:00 PM

Michigan

27-14, 12-3

Rutgers

24-18, 7-9

Michigan

Rutgers

Dominic Clementi

5/4/2018 6:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Dominic Clementi roped a game-tying two-run triple in the seventh inning, but Rutgers scored eight runs in the bottom half to take the first game of the weekend series. Clementi finished a double shy of the cycle, reaching base in all five plate appearances (home run, triple, single, two walks).
» Jordan Nwogu hit a leadoff home run to open the game, becoming the first Michigan player to accomplish that feat in more than four years.
» Jonathan Engelmann went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Jesse Franklin went 4-for-4 with two RBI.

Site: Piscataway, N.J. (Bainton Field)
Score: Rutgers 15, Michigan 9
Records: U-M (27-14, 12-3 Big Ten), RUT (24-18, 7-9 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 5 -- at Rutgers (Piscataway, N.J.), 1 p.m.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Sophomore Dominic Clementi finished a double shy of the cycle and was one of three players to hit home runs, but the University of Michigan baseball team dropped the weekend series opener to Rutgers, 15-9, on Friday afternoon (May 4) at Bainton Field.

Clementi hit an opposite-field home run in the fifth, a game-tying, two-run triple in the seventh and added an RBI single in the ninth. He reached base in all five plate appearances, adding two walks.

Freshman Jordan Nwogu and sophomore Jonathan Engelmann each homered in the first inning off Rutgers starter John O'Reilly, propelling Michigan to an early 3-0 lead. Nwogu became the first Wolverine to leadoff a game with a home run since Travis Maezes did it at College of Charleston on March 15, 2014. In addition, Engelmann's long fly extended his hit streak to 16 games.

The Scarlet Knights quickly tied the game at 3 behind a two-out single and three consecutive doubles down the line.

The Wolverines re-took the lead in the bottom of the third, putting the first two men on against O'Reilly. On an Engelmann flyout to center field, Nwogu tagged up and went to third. Freshman Jesse Franklin, who went 4-for-4 on the afternoon, worked a full count against O'Reilly and brought Nwogu home on sacrifice fly to left field, giving Michigan the 4-3 lead.

Rutgers got the lead back in the bottom half on a two-run single by Chris Folinusz. A diving grab in center field by Engelmann ended the inning, preventing another run from scoring.

In the bottom of the fourth, facing sophomore Jack Weisenburger, Rutgers attempted to get a run home on a squeeze bunt, but junior Blake Nelson relayed a perfect throw to home plate, beating the runner.

Clementi tied the game at 5 in the top of the fifth, hitting his fourth home run of the season just inside the left-field foul pole. But the Scarlet Knights came back again in the bottom half, grinding a run home on a walk, a balk, a fielder's choice and a passed ball. They added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly.

Michigan put the first two runners on in the top of the seventh and Clementi brought them home, tying the game at 7. Clementi roped it into left-center field where the diving attempt by Rutgers center fielder Jawuan Harris was unsuccessful, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall. The momentum was short-lived, however, as Rutgers plated eight runs in the bottom of the inning to take control.

The Wolverines mounted a two-out rally in the ninth, getting RBI singles from Clementi and Franklin, but couldn't do any more damage.

Michigan (27-14) and Rutgers (24-18) will continue the three-game set on Saturday (May 5). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Bainton Field.