U-M Remains Unbeaten in Big Ten Play Behind Two Big Innings in Series Win at Illinois

Saturday, April 1

Champaign, Ill.

5:00 PM CT

Michigan

15-11, 0

Illinois

11-12, 0

Michigan

Illinois

(Michigan Photography)

U-M Remains Unbeaten in Big Ten Play Behind Two Big Innings in Series Win at Illinois

4/1/2023 10:46:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

Champaign, Ill. -- The University of Michigan baseball team used a three-run second inning and a six-run ninth to remain unbeaten in Big Ten Play on Saturday (April 1), as the Wolverines defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini, 10-5, at Illinois Field.

Michigan (15-11, 5-0 Big Ten) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but all three runners were left on bases after a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the inning. The Fighting Illini (11-12, 1-4 Big Ten) took advantage of a base hit, a walk and an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to take a 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines answered quickly with three runs in the top of the second. Gabe Sotres led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball before being called out at home in a close fielder's choice out that allowed Mitch Voit to reach first. Voit moved up two bases on a single up the middle by Jonathan Kim, then both scored on a passed ball to tie the game. Cody Jefferis then drew a walk, and Ted Burton roped a double to left-center field that scored Voit and Kim to put Michigan up, 3-1.

Starting pitcher Chase Allen settled in after the first and allowed just one hit in a quick second inning, but Illinois got one back in the bottom of the third on a solo home run to right field. After that, the Wolverine offense went quiet and did not tally another hit until the eighth. Allen help firm on the mound and allowed just one Illini base runner in the fourth before tossing a 1-2-3 fifth frame.

In the sixth inning, Joey Velazquez robbed the Illini of a home run that would have tied the game at three. The next two Illinois batters reached base, however, which led head coach Tracy Smith to make a call to the bullpen. Reliver Noah Rennard walked the first batter he faced but got the Illini to ground into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

Illinois tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff home run. Rennard retired the next two batters quickly before a strong throw from Velazquez ended the inning after an Illinois hitter attempted to stretch his single to a double.

U-M retook the lead in the eighth, which started when Sotres was hit by a pitch with one out. A groundout put a second out on the board, but Sotres advanced to second on the play and scored on a base hit from Kim. With Michigan up 4-3, Rennard struck out three in the eighth to keep the Wolverines in the lead with one inning to go.

Despite taking a one-run edge into the ninth inning, the Wolverines exploded for six runs in their final at-bat. Cody Jefferis led off the inning with an outfield single before a double from Ted Burton gave U-M two runners in scoring position. Joe Longo was then hit-by-pitch and Greg Pace Jr. entered as a pinch runner. A bases-loaded wild pitch broke open the scoring as Jefferis crossed home and put Michigan up by two. Tito Flores kept things going with a base hit that scored Burton. Jake Marti pinch ran for Flores and Jack Van Remortel drew a walk that loaded the bases before Voit hit a grand slam to straight-away center field, putting Michigan up 10-3.

The Illini rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth but the deficit proved too much as U-M clinched the 10-5 victory and the series win.

The Wolverines will wrap up the Big Ten weekend series at Illinois on Sunday (April 2) at 1:30 p.m. CT. The game is set to air live on the Big Ten Network.