Michigan Drops Series Opener Against Indiana State in Extras

Tuesday, April 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

Michigan

22-9

Indiana State

24-6

Indiana State

Michigan

Jesse Franklin (left) and Jordan Nwogu

Michigan Drops Series Opener Against Indiana State in Extras

4/9/2019 8:48:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Michigan hit three home runs for a second straight game.
» Ako Thomas hit a pair of doubles.
» Seven of Michigan's 12 hits went for extra bases.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Indiana State 8, Michigan 7 (10 innings)
Records: U-M (22-9), ISU (24-6)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, April 10 -- vs. Indiana State (Wilpon Complex), 5 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A 10th-inning home run by Indiana State capped a late-game comeback as the University of Michigan baseball team fell, 8-7, to the Sycamores on Tuesday (April 9) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

With two outs in the 10th inning, ISU cleanup hitter Jake Means took the first pitch he saw from freshman closer Willie Weiss (2-2) over the left-field wall for the eventual game-winning hit. Michigan put runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the inning but could not push across the tying run.

Indiana State jumped on top with an unearned run in the top of the first when a passed ball was followed by a runner advancing on a fly ball and scoring later on a grounder through the right side.

Batting leadoff, sophomore designated hitter Jordan Nwogu tied the game in the bottom of the first when he took a 2-1 fastball and ripped a line drive over the left-field wall with the ball coming off his bat at over 107 mph. Two batters later, redshirt senior left fielder Miles Lewis took a 1-1 fastball for a line drive homer over the left-center field wall at nearly 105 mph off the bat.

ISU scored four times in the third inning to claim a 5-2 lead. Control errors hurt the Wolverines in the frame as two hit batters and two walks were aided by a bases-clearing double from Romero Harris.

Michigan edged closer in the bottom of the frame as the Wolverines loaded the bases and, with two outs, sophomore catcher Joe Donovan laced a two-run single to left to close the margin to 5-4 and prompt an ISU pitching change. Reliever Evan Giles walked the first two batters he faced, including Nwogu, to force home a run and tie the game.

Following two scoreless innings, Michigan pushed ahead again in the sixth. Senior second baseman Ako Thomas led off with a ringing double to the gap in left-center -- his second double of the afternoon -- to force another move to the bullpen by ISU. Following a flyout, sophomore center fielder Jesse Franklin hit a 1-0 pitch hit over the right-center field wall for Michigan's third homer of the game and a 7-5 lead.

Indiana scored a run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning to make it a 7-6 game and then tied the game in the eighth with an unearned run on the benefit of an infield single, passed ball, single and a double-play grounder.

Michigan threatened in the ninth inning, but sophomore shortstop Jack Blomgren lined out to right field to end the inning.

Indiana State improves to 24-6 on the season with the win, while Michigan falls to 22-9. The Wolverines and Sycamores will complete their two-game series Wednesday (April 10) with a 5 p.m. game at the Wilpon Complex. Fans who wear baseball jerseys of their favorite teams will receive free admission.