Michigan Magic After Midnight: Wolverines Advance Past Illinois

Thursday, May 26

Omaha, Neb.

10:53 PM CT

Michigan

29-25

Illinois

31-21

Michigan

Illinois

(L-R) Matt Frey and Clark Elliott (Big Ten Conference Photo)

Michigan Magic After Midnight: Wolverines Advance Past Illinois

5/27/2022 3:36:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Joey Velazquez plated the go-ahead run in the eighth inning with a two-out single to right field and Clark Elliott added an RBI single moments later.
» Clark Elliott and Joe Stewart became the first duo to start a Big Ten Tournament game with consecutive home runs.
» All of the Illinois runs were scored with two outs.
» The game marked the latest game ever played at Charles Schwab Field.

OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Michigan baseball team broke up a tie game with a pair of two-out runs in the eighth inning Thursday (May 26), as the No. 5-seeded Wolverines opened the 2022 Big Ten Tournament with a 7-5 victory over No. 4 seed Illinois at Charles Schwab Field.

The latest game ever played at the landmark stadium went back and forth until the eighth inning when Joey Velazquez and Clark Elliott both connected for run-scoring singles.

Michigan (29-25) started the game with a bang as Elliott and Joe Stewart hit back-to-back home runs, becoming the first duo to start a Big Ten Tournament game with consecutive long balls.

Illinois (31-21) got a run in the second inning thanks to a leadoff walk and a pair of one-out singles, but Michigan got the run back in the top of the third inning as Stewart laced a double to the gap in right-center and scored one pitch later on an opposite-field line drive single from Matt Frey.

Illinois tied the game with a two-out rally in the fourth inning as the Illini recorded a single and two doubles against Connor O'Halloran. Still, Michigan retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning as Jimmy Obertop knocked an opposite-field homer with two outs to make it a 4-3 game.

Yet again, Illinois rallied with two outs in an inning to tie the game -- this time in the sixth with a single, a walk, and a single by number nine hitter Cal Hejza.

A resilient Michigan team reclaimed the lead with a two-out rally of its own. In the top of the eighth inning, Tito Flores shot a single into left field to lead off but looked to remain stranded on second following a sacrifice bunt from Riley Bertram and a flyout. Velazquez had other ideas, however, as the two-sport standout drove a 1-2 fastball into right field to plate the go-ahead run. Elliott then struck with an RBI single to left field with pinch-runner Jordon Rogers crossing home plate just before an out was made at third base to end the inning.

Insurance came in the top of the ninth, with the usual suspects playing a role. Stewart roped a double to left and hustled to third base, tagging up on a line drive out off Frey's bat. With one out, Obertop lined an RBI single up the middle to make it a 7-4 game.

Chase Allen earned the win with 2.0 innings of relief in which he allowed one earned run. Cameron Weston threw 2.0 innings, allowing a run in the ninth inning but earning a save in his third-straight appearance.

Stewart led Michigan with three hits -- two doubles and the homer -- while Velazquez added three singles. Elliott and Obertop added two hits apiece to pace U-M's 14-hit attack.

Michigan will return to action in the late game on Friday night (May 27). The Wolverines are set to face No. 1-seeded Maryland, who defeated No. 8 seed Indiana in 11 innings on Thursday in the third game of the tournament. Game time is still to be determined but is slated tentatively for 40 minutes after the conclusion of the loser's bracket game between Indiana and Illinois.