Michigan's Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short Against Rutgers

Saturday, April 24

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

19-8, 19-8

Rutgers

13-13, 13-13

Rutgers

Michigan

Clark Elliott (Michigan Photography)

Michigan's Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short Against Rutgers

4/24/2021 4:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Michigan had the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning but could not capitalize.
» Clark Elliott had two hits for Michigan.
» The Wolverines scored on a wild pitch and a Jordon Rogers foul out.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Rutgers 4, #23 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (19-8, 19-8 B1G), RU (13-13, 13-13 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 24 -- vs. Rutgers (Wilpon Complex), Noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan baseball team had the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning Saturday (April 24), but could not capitalize as the Wolverines were defeated 4-2 by visiting Rutgers the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Trailing by two in the decisive ninth, Jimmy Obertop sparked a rally with a one-out single to center field. Tito Flores then drew a walk to prompt a visit to the mound. The next batter, Ted Burton, got into a hitter's count, 3-1, but he flew out and Rutgers' closer Nate McLain induced the final out and the Scarlet Knights held on.

The game was scoreless through four and a half innings before wet conditions seemed to effect Rutgers, with Michigan scoring twice without the benefit of a hit. Flores reached first on a throwing error to start. He then broke for second on a 3-1 pitch to Burton than was called a ball. Rutgers' catcher Sam Owens started to throw to second to catch Flores before trying to stop his throwing motion on ball four but instead spiked the ball into the ground where it rolled into left field, allowing Flores to take third. Riley Bertram was then hit with a pitch to load the bases before all three runners moved up on a wild pitch. Jordon Rogers delivered the second run with a sacrifice fly to right, but Michigan stranded a runner at third, allowing Rutgers to limit the damage.

Rutgers took that momentum into the sixth inning where it loaded the bases with no outs to chase Cameron Weston (4-2) from the game on an infield single, walk and a bunt single. Joe Pace got a strikeout against cleanup hitter Chris Brito but yielded a based-clearing double to Richie Schiefofer, who later scored on a single by Jordan Sweeny to give Rutgers a 4-2 lead. Weston ended up with the loss after allowing three runs over five innings against five strikeouts.

Rutgers starter Ben Wereski (5-2) was exceptional in the game, scattering four hits over 7.2 innings while striking out six batters.

Jack White provided plenty of relief out of the U-M bullpen, striking out four batters against just one hit in three innings of shutdown work.

Elliott was the lone Michigan player with multiple hits.

The Wolverines and Scarlet Knights will conclude their three-game series on Sunday (April 25) at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for noon, and the game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.