No. 4 Vanderbilt Scores Three in Ninth to Beat Michigan, 5-4

Tuesday, March 15

Nashville, Tenn.

6:00 PM CT

Michigan

8-8

Vanderbilt

14-2

Michigan

Vanderbilt

Tito Flores (Michigan Photography)

No. 4 Vanderbilt Scores Three in Ninth to Beat Michigan, 5-4

3/15/2022 10:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Vanderbilt scored three runs with two outs in the ninth inning to overcome a 4-2 deficit and defeat the Wolverines, 5-4.
» Vanderbilt had been 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position before a game-tying two-run double in the bottom of the ninth.
» Riley Bertram and Tito Flores led Michigan with two hits apiece.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 4-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs to storm back and defeat the University of Michigan baseball team by a score of 5-4 Tuesday night (March 15) at Hawkins Field.

Vanderbilt's ninth inning rally came with some luck. Dominic Keegan barely fought off a two-strike pitch, tipping the ball at the last moment to get a foul ball and another shot before leading off the inning with a single to center field. Following a fly ball out and a walk, Michigan closer Willie Weiss got the second out on a fielder's choice to second. Tate Kolwyck then hit a sinking liner to left field that Tito Flores dove for and barely missed. The ball got behind him and the tying run came all the way from first base to tie the game with Kolwyck going to third base on the throw. A mound visit halted the momentum but a passed ball on the very next pitch allowed Kolwyck to score the game winner.

Enrique Bradfield, Jr. broke open a scoreless game with a solo homer to lead off the third inning. The Commodores threatened in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs against reliever Ahmad Harajli and forcing Michigan to the bullpen in favor of righty Noah Rennard. Rennard answered the call, inducing a pair of grounders back to the mound and a third to second base to get out of the inning.

Michigan fed off that momentum in the next frame as Tito Flores doubled to lead off and scored on a line drive single from Riley Bertram who, in turn, scored on an RBI single from Clark Elliott as the Wolverines grabbed the lead, 2-1.

Michigan added to its lead in the seventh. Flores led off the inning again with a hit, this time a sharp single up the middle. He advanced to a second on a wild pitch and U-M had runners on the corners when Bertram beat out an infield single to second base. Jake Marti then pinch hit and laid down a perfect safety squeeze bunt to add to the lead and Alex Fedje-Johnson followed with an RBI single on a shot that ricocheted off the third baseman and trickled into left field, allowing Bertram to score. Fedje-Johnson immediately stole second base but Vandy's third pitcher of the night, Nelson Berkwich, got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Vanderbilt finally got to Rennard in the bottom of the frame, although with some circumstance. A bang-bang two-out infield single was followed by a walk and a bloop RBI double down the line in left field. U-M went to the bullpen in favor of Chase Allen. Allen walked a batter but got out of the bases-loaded jam with a huge strikeout against the SEC's top shortstop prospect in Carter Young to preserve a 4-2 lead.

Vanderbilt threatened again in the eighth, getting a leadoff single and a one-out walk. Michigan went back to the bullpen in favor of closer Weiss. Weiss answered the call, getting a groundout and a big strikeout against Spencer Jones, who already had two doubles on the night.

That set the stage for the unfortunate ninth inning.

Flores and Bertram had two hits apiece for Michigan while Rennard was impressive with 3.2 innings of three-hit relief and three strikeouts.

Michigan looks forward to this weekend as the Wolverines open their home schedule against Dayton in a three-game series, March 18-20. Friday's game starts at 4 p.m. All fans aged 18 and under receive free admission throughout the weekend as U-M hosts public fans for the first time since playing in the 2019 College World Series.