Michigan's Bats Cooled by Iowa in Big Ten Tournament Loss

Saturday, May 28

Omaha, Neb.

7:10 PM CT

Michigan

30-26

Iowa

36-18

Iowa

Michigan

Baseball Bench Reaction - Big Ten Tournament (Mark Kuhlmann/Big Ten Conference)

The Michigan bench reacts to a play at the plate in the sixth inning. (Mark Kuhlmann/Big Ten Conference)

Michigan's Bats Cooled by Iowa in Big Ten Tournament Loss

5/28/2022 11:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Jordon Rogers delivered a two-run pinch-hit single in the sixth inning.
» Jimmy Obertop blasted a solo home run in the eighth inning.
» Chase Allen allowed just two hits in five innings but took the loss despite allowing just one unearned run,
» Iowa opened a 3-2 game with a four-run seventh inning.

OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Michigan baseball team struggled to collect the big hits Saturday (May 28) and a four-run seventh inning led to Iowa defeating the Wolverines 7-3 in a Big Ten Tournament game at Charles Schwab Field.

The win keeps Iowa alive in the tournament, and the teams will meet again Sunday for the right to advance to the championship game against either Indiana or Rutgers. Sunday's game time is dependent on the outcome of Saturday night's game between the Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights. If Indiana wins, Michigan and Iowa will play at 9 a.m. CDT. If Rutgers wins, Michigan vs. Iowa will play at 1 p.m. CDT.

Sunday's Big Ten Championship game will take place at 5 p.m.

In the early going, Michigan left the bases loaded in the first inning and stranded three runners in scoring position in the first two innings to set an unenviable trend for the game. Michigan's vaunted offense was frustrated all night, batting just 3-for-23 with runners on base and 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Meanhile, Iowa struck first with an unearned run in the fifth inning as a leadoff single was followed by a throwing error, a sacrifice bunt and a walk to load the bases with one out. U-M starter Chase Allen (7-2) got a strikeout but then yielded an eight-pitch walk to all-conference right fielder Anthony Keaton. However, Allen bore down and got Peyton Williams to ground out to end the frame. That was the final pitch for Allen, who threw well, allowing just two hits in five innings against three walks and four strikeouts.

In the sixth inning, Walker Cleveland took the mound and got a quick out but surrendered a single and a walk before Michigan went back to the bullpen in favor of Noah Rennard. His first pitch to Kyle Huckstorf was laced to the right-center-field gap for a two-run triple and a 3-0 Hawkeye lead. Brendan Sher tried a suicide squeeze on the next pitch, but Jake Marti came crashing in from his position at first base, slid to field the wall and deftly shoveled the ball to Jimmy Obertop, who applied the tag at home to cut down a run and end the momentum.

Michigan applied pressure in the bottom of the inning when Matt Frey and Obertop led off the inning with crisp singles. With runners on the corners and two outs, Iowa went to the bullpen with a 2-0 count on Ted Burton, who eventually worked a full count walk and brought up pinch hitter Jordon Rogers. He lofted a soft liner into shallow right where Anthony could not make a diving catch. The ball hopped away as Burton raced around third base. Second baseman Izaya Fullard hustled to the ball and threw a strike home to barely beat Burton with the tying run as the Hawkeyes' lead was trimmed to 3-2.

Iowa scored four times on four singles and two hit batters against three U-M relievers and took a commanding 7-2 lead.

Obertop led off the eighth inning with a titanic home run, driving a fastball through a stiff wind 398 feet to the gap in left field. Tito Flores next drew a walk, and following a mound visit, Riley Bertram surprised Iowa by laying down a perfect bunt single to keep the pressure on. Iowa was forced back to the bullpen, and Connor Schultz came on to stymie Michigan by striking out three straight batters. Michigan could not mount a comeback in the ninth.

Avery Goldensoph was fantastic in relief as the freshman tossed three innings of scoreless relief, allowing three hits and striking out two batters while not issuing a walk.