Bats Struggle in Loss to Ohio State in Series, Regular-Season Finale

Saturday, May 20

Columbus, Ohio

2:00 PM

Michigan

26-26, 0

Ohio State

31-25, 0

Michigan

Ohio State

Jack Van Remortel (Michigan Photography)

Bats Struggle in Loss to Ohio State in Series, Regular-Season Finale

5/20/2023 5:32:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan baseball team was swept by Ohio State after a 7-2 loss to the Buckeyes on Saturday (May 20) in the series finale at Bill Davis Stadium.

Michigan (26-25, 13-10 Big Ten) had a leadoff single from Cody Jefferis but was caught stealing with the other two Wolverines being retired in the top of the first. Two Buckeyes reached base in the bottom of the first, but John Torroella kept the Buckeyes scoreless to start the game. U-M stranded Tito Flores in the second after he singled with two outs. Ohio State (30-25, 8-15 Big Ten) took the lead in the bottom of the second after a leadoff walk and the runner worked his way around to score on a sacrifice fly.

Jonathan Kim doubled with one out in the third, but once again U-M left the runner on base. The Buckeyes took a commanding lead in the bottom of the third with back-to-back home runs off Jake Keaser. Michigan got two back in the top of the fourth after Flores drew a two out walk. On a full count, Jack Van Remortel hit a home run over the wall in left field and cut the lead to 4-2.

OSU added one back to its lead on an RBI single, one of three hits in the inning. Jacob Denner took the mound with one out in the inning and struck out the first batter he faced and forced a groundout after issuing a walk to load the bases.

U-M once again left a runner on base in the fifth after Jefferis singled with two outs. Denner was strong in the fifth, tallying two strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Michigan went down in order in the top of the sixth, but Denner was able keep the Buckeyes scoreless as he struck out the final two batters in the inning.

Van Remortel doubled to lead off the top of the seventh but was left on base after the next three U-M batters were retired. Ohio State extended its lead in the bottom of the seventh on a two-RBI single up the middle. The leadoff man once again reached for Michigan, this time a walk from Jefferis, but again he was left on base. Voit took to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and after a leadoff walk, retired the final three batters of the inning.

The Wolverines had one last chance in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff double from Flores and a one-out single from Voit. The final two Wolverines were retired leaving two runners on base to end the game.

With the regular season now complete, Michigan will shift its focus to the postseason. The Wolverines will begin Big Ten Tournament play on Tuesday (May 23), with their opponent and game time to be determined. All games will take place at at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.