Late-Inning Rally Falls One Run Shy vs. No. 2 Arkansas in College Baseball Series Finale

Sunday, February 25

Arlington, Texas

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

2-5

Arkansas

5-2

Arkansas

Michigan

Cole Caruso (Michigan Photography)

Late-Inning Rally Falls One Run Shy vs. No. 2 Arkansas in College Baseball Series Finale

2/25/2024 6:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan fell 4-3 to Arkansas on the final day of the Kubtoa College Baseball series.
» Cole Caruso had two hits on the day and added a run and an RBI.
» Will Rogers had six strikeouts on the mound and added a hit and a run.
» U-M turned three double plays on the day to help keep the game close.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A late comeback from the University of Michigan baseball team fell short in the ninth against No. 2-ranked Arkansas, falling 4-3 on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 25) in the finale of the Kubota College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.

Down by three runs entering the bottom of the ninth, Mitch Voit singled to lead off the inning but was erased when Jonathan Kim reached on a fielder's choice. Kim advanced to second on defensive indifference and scored on a single from Cole Caruso, who also reached second base and came around to score -- courtesy of Kyle Dernedde reaching on an error by the Razorbacks third baseman. Will Rogers singled, and an error loaded the bases with Bradley Navarro reaching on the play. However, the Wolverines could not convert the chance as a flyout to right field ended the game.

Michigan (2-5) struggled early on as Dylan Vigue allowed three runs in 3.2 innings to give Arkansas an early lead. Offensively, U-M had just four baserunners through the first six innings and got its first hit in the seventh inning.

Arkansas (5-2) was propelled by its starter, who threw five no-hit innings and scored one in the first, two in the fourth and one in the seventh.

The Razorbacks started the game with a leadoff walk issued by Vigue before a double gave Arkansas a 1-0 lead.

U-M got its first baserunner of the day when Dylan Stanton was hit by a pitch, but he was stranded there. In the third, Vigue fired a 1-2-3 inning and U-M threatened in the bottom half, but came up empty. Brock Leitgeb led off the inning with a walk but a sacrifice bunt attempt by Greg Pace Jr. was unsuccessful, but Pace was safe at first. He reached third base after a stolen base and error on the throw, but the inning ended without a Michigan run.

Arkansas added to its lead with a two-run fourth. Will Rogers entered the game for Vigue with two outs and ended the frame thanks to a diving stop by Voit.

Michigan got its first hit of the game in the bottom of the seventh when Caruso hit a two-out double, but was left on base as a groundout to the shortstop ended the inning. Kurt Barr took the mound in the eighth and faced just three batters as he was helped by a 6-4-3 double play -- the Wolverines' third of the game -- to end the inning.

The Maize and Blue got on the board in the eighth when Will Rogers reached on an error to open the frame. Bradley Navarro came into pinch hit and singled to shallow left field to score Rogers. A fielder's choice and double play ended the inning, but Arkansas led 4-1 heading into the ninth inning. Kurt Barr fired a 1-2-3 ninth inning to give U-M a chance.

The Wolverines will continue their spring break trip in California with two mid-week games. First up, U-M heads to Los Angeles to take on USC on Tuesday (Feb. 27) at 6 p.m. PST at Page Stadium. The game will be streamed live on Pac-12 Insider.