Michigan
Toledo
U-M Drops Non-Conference Tilt Against Toledo
4/19/2023 9:08:00 PM | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team lost 10-7 to Toledo on Wednesday (April 19) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium in the opener of an eight-game homestand.
Kurt Barr started off strong on the mound for Michigan (19-17) with a 1-2-3 inning in the first with two strikeouts. However, Toledo (16-20) struck first with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning. U-M converted a double play to get out of a jam as the Rockets left another runner on the second.
The Wolverines took the lead in their half of the second. Joey Velazquez was hit by a pitch with one out, then Mitch Voit homered down the right-field line to give U-M the 2-1 lead.
Ryan Zimmer relieved Barr in the top of the third inning and sent the Rockets down in order with a strikeout to end the frame. U-M extended its lead to 6-1 in its turn to bat with a two-out grand slam from Velazquez, scoring Cody Jefferis, who walked to lead off the inning, Jonathan Kim, who was hit by a pitch, and Jack Van Remortel whose walk loaded the bases.
Zimmer faced the minimum number of batters in the fourth as another double play ended the inning after a walk.
Walker Cleveland took the mound in the fifth and gave up two runs, one earned, in one-third of an inning. Cleveland gave way to Jake Keaser, who induced a pair of ground outs to stem the tide with Michigan ahead 6-3.
Toledo took the lead with a four-run sixth inning. The first three batters reached base, including a single and an error by Kim, to put runners at second and third before a single to right scored both. After a fly out for the first out, the next four batters reached on three singles and a walk as the Rockets added two more runs to take the lead, 7-6. Jacob Denner was summoned to relieve Keaser and struck out the final two batters to leave the bases loaded and prevent further damage.
U-M managed to tie it up in the bottom of the sixth. Van Remortel walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Velazquez singled to left-center and Van Remortel scored to tie the game. Three fly outs to center field left Velazquez stranded.
The Rockets retook the lead in the seventh and kept it for the reminder of the game. With two outs, Toledo got a walk and three singles which scored three runners. Denner struck out the final batter of the inning, but not before the Rockets took the 10-7 lead.
Michigan had chances to score late in the game but could not convert. In the seventh, Jefferis walked and Kim singled, but two strikeouts ended the inning. With two outs in the eighth, Dylan Stanton hit a pinch-hit single which advanced Voit who had singled earlier inning. The threat ended with a foul out to the third baseman.
John Torroella pitched the final two innings and faced just six batters and tallied two strikeouts.
In the ninth, Joe Longo singled with two outs to try and spark a comeback, but a strikeout ended the game.
The Wolverines will return to Big Ten play with a three-game weekend set against Michigan State. Friday's series-opener against the Spartans is a Maize Out and is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Ray Fisher Stadium. The game will be streamed live on B1G+.
