U-M Comeback Falls Short as Wolverines Fall to Zips in Midweek Tilt

Tuesday, March 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

9-11

Akron

8-11

AKRON

Michigan

From Left: Tito Flores, Ted Burton (Michigan Photography)

U-M Comeback Falls Short as Wolverines Fall to Zips in Midweek Tilt

3/21/2023 9:20:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- A late comeback effort fell short on Tuesday night (March 21) as the University of Michigan baseball team fell to the Akron Zips at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium, in a midweek tilt.

Both teams scored in the first inning of what would become a high-scoring game. Akron's second batter of the day hit a two-run home run to get things going in the top of the first. U-M starting pitcher Ahmad Harajli collected himself and struck out three of the next four batters to end the inning. Michigan got one back in the bottom of the frame when Tito Flores drew a one-out walk, took second on single from Joe Longo and came around to score on an RBI single from Jake Marti.

U-M had another good chance in the second with runners on first and second after a double from Mitch Voit led off the inning and Jonathan Kim drew a walk, but both runners were left on base.

Akron added to its lead in the third inning, scoring seven runs off Harajli and reliever Kurt Barr. The Zips had back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning, which scored one. After two walks and a single scored another, a bases-loaded walk put Akron up 5-1 before a grand slam gave the Zips a 9-1 lead.

Michigan got two runs back in the bottom of the third. Ted Burton drew a walk -- one of three on the day -- and advanced to third on a Longo double down the right field line before scoring on a single from Marti. Longo then scored on a sacrifice fly from Jack Van Remortel.

Lefty Walker Cleveland came into pitch with one out in the top of the fourth and struck out the two batters he faced in the inning to strand an Akron runner.

The Wolverines continued to mount a comeback and got two more runs back in the fourth. Flores reached on an error and after Burton walked, Flores managed to score on a single from Longo to left field. Burton scored on a wild pitch after moving to third on a Marti groundout.

With Akron leading the game 9-5, the scoring was stopped for a few innings as Cleveland pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with no damage. The Wolverine offense was also unable to get anything going in the fifth and sixth as U-M managed only one base runner in the two innings.

Akron extended its lead to 11-5 in the top of the seventh as the Zips scored two on a ball hit to right field that resulted in a Michigan fielding error. Down six, the Wolverines threatened with two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the frame, but did not score.

Right-handed pitcher Cam Hart faced the minimum number of batters in the eighth inning thanks to a 4-6-3 double play. With the momentum in hand, Michigan showed discipline at the plate to push two runs across in the bottom of the eighth. Flores and Burton drew back-to-back walks with one out, and Marti was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases. Gabe Sotres was hit by a pitch, which scored Flores, and after a pitching change for the Zips, Voit drew a full-count bases-loaded walk which scored Burton.

Righty Brandon Mann pitched a 1-2-3 frame in the top of the ninth and tallied his first career strikeout to keep the score at 11-7. With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Wolverines had two runners on after Cody Jefferis walked and Flores reached on a fielder's choice that did not result in an out. Burton brought Michigan within one run with just one swing as he launched a three-run home run over the left-center field wall. Marti reached on an error with two outs and stole second to give the Wolverines the tying run in scoring position, but a groundout ended the inning and cut Michigan's comeback bid just short as the Wolverines dropped an 11-10 decision.

Longo posted a team-best three hits on the afternoon, while Burton and Flores scored four runs apiece. Burton, who drove in three runs with his three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, led U-M with three walks.

The Wolverines will open up Big Ten conference play at home in this weekend (March 24-26) against Penn State in a three-game series. First pitch for Friday's series opener is slated for 4 p.m.