Van Remortel's Walk-Off Homer in Extras Lifts U-M to Midweek Win over CMU

Tuesday, March 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

13-11

Central Michigan

13-10

CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Michigan

Jack Van Remortel Home Plate Celebration

Jack Van Remortel (Michigan Photography)

Van Remortel's Walk-Off Homer in Extras Lifts U-M to Midweek Win over CMU

3/28/2023 8:36:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A walk-off home run by Jack Van Remortel in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the University of Michigan baseball team to a 6-5 victory over Central Michigan on Tuesday (March 28th) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

In the bottom of the ninth with two men on base, Ted Burton doubled off the left-field wall, scoring Cody Jefferis and Jonathan Kim to tie the ball game, 5-5. After Joey Velazquez was intentionally walked to load the bases, Dylan Stanton flew out to left field for a sacrifice fly opportunity, but a good throw from the left fielder beat Burton home for the third out and sent the game to extra innings.

Mitch Voit, who took over on the mound in the ninth inning, returned for the top of the 10th and retired three straight CMU batters for a 1-2-3 frame that included two pop-up outs and a groundout.

Michigan (13-11) got its chance in the bottom of the 10th with Van Remortel in the batter's box. With one out and a 1-2 count, he pulled one over the left field wall for a walk-off home run to clinch a 6-5 win.

Central Michigan (13-10) took an early 1-0 lead when the first batter of the game hit a leadoff home run. Starting pitcher Kurt Barr got out of the inning with a strikeout and a double play. Michigan drew two walks in the bottom of the first but grounded into a double play as well to end the inning.

The Wolverines took their first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the second. Van Remortel doubled to right field with one out and scored on the next play -- an outfield single by Casey Buckley. Buckley advanced to third on a two-base error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jefferis for a 2-1 Michigan lead.

The Wolverine lead did not last long as the Chippewas got a run back in the top of the third. CMU's first four batters reached base with a run scoring on a fielder's choice. U-M then converted its third double-play of the day to end the threat.

Tito Flores put the Wolverines back ahead with a solo homer to left field in the bottom of the third.

Following a scoreless fourth frame, the Chippewas scored twice in the top of the fifth on a bases-loaded RBI single and a bases-loaded walk. The CMU half of the inning ended with another double play, the fourth of the day turned by the Wolverines. It marked the first time since 2021 that Michigan converted four double plays in a game.

U-M only managed one hit in the fifth and sixth innings combined, and CMU added to its lead in the top of the seventh thanks to a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles. Jacob Denner then settled in and struck out two in a row before a diving play by Jefferis ended the inning.

Michigan threatened with two base hits in the bottom of the seventh but went down 1-2-3 in the eighth before rallying for two runs in the ninth to tie the score and send the game to extras.

The Wolverines will travel to Illinois for a three-game Big Ten Conference series this weekend starting on Friday (March 31) at 6 p.m. CT. The teams will meet again Saturday (March 31) at 1 p.m. CT before the series finale is broadcast live on the Big Ten Network on Sunday (April 2) at 2:30 p.m. CT.