Michigan's Comeback Falls Short at Long Beach State

Tuesday, March 5

Long Beach, Calif.

1:00 PM PT

Michigan

8-2

Long Beach State

1-10

Michigan

Long Beach State

Miles Lewis

3/5/2019 8:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Michigan put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth inning.
» Miles Lewis and Jimmy Kerr both connected for two-run homers.
» Long Beach State scored six runs with two outs in the third inning to take control of the game

Site: Long Beach, Calif. (Blair Field)
Score: LBSU 8, #16 Michigan 7
Records: U-M (8-2), LBSU (1-10)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, March 6 – at UC Irvine (Irvine, Calif.) 6 p.m. PST

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- A furious rally came up just short for the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan baseball team as the Wolverines fell to Long Beach State, 8-7, Tuesday afternoon (March 5) at Blair Field.

The Wolverines fell behind, 7-1, after a six-run Long Beach State third inning. Michigan attempted to mount a late-game rally as they put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth inning.

Michigan jumped on top in the first inning when sophomore Jordan Nwogu doubled down the left-field line and came around to score on a fielding error. LBSU quickly tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the frame on a bunt single, stolen base, balk and bloop single to left.

LBSU scored six runs in the bottom of the third inning, all with two outs, as the Dirtbags used a walk to spark the top of the order which followed with two doubles and two singles to chase sophomore right-hander Blake Beers (0-1) from the game take a 7-1 lead. Two Michigan relievers, sophomore Angelo Smith and redshirt freshman Isaiah Paige, ended the inning without any further damage done.

Michigan edged closer with three runs in the sixth inning, two of them coming on a long two-run homer from redshirt senior Miles Lewis, who narrowly had missed a three-run homer earlier in the game. Long Beach State countered with an unearned in the bottom of the sixth.

In the eighth inning, Nwogu doubled home senior Ako Thomas, who had doubled two batters before, to set up a dramatic ninth inning.

Junior Jordan Brewer led off with a single and Jimmy Kerr unloaded a two-run homer to center field to make it an 8-7 game. With one out, junior Christan Bullock singled with one out but was erased on a caught stealing at second base moments later. Thomas immediately singled and was followed with another single from sophomore Jack Blomgren to bring sophomore Joe Donovan to the plate. Donovan worked the count to 2-2, but just got under a high fastball and popped up to end the game.

Nwogu, Lewis, Thomas, Brewer and Blomgren all had multi-hit games in the Wolverines' 14-hit attack.

Paige and redshirt junior Benjamin Keizer pitched well in relief with Paige not allowing an earned run over 2.1 innings of work and Keizer throwing two scoreless innings. Junior Jack Weisenburger threw a scoreless ninth inning.

Michigan will return to action on Wednesday (March 6) at 6 p.m. PST, when they take on UC Irvine at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.