Wolverines Come Up Short in B1G Opener at Penn State

Friday, March 22

State College, Pa.

5:00 PM

Michigan

7-15, 0-1

Penn State

12-7, 1-0

Michigan

Penn State

Stephen Hrustich (Michigan Photography)

3/22/2024 9:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan fell to Penn State 4-3 in its Big Ten Conference opener.
» Stephen Hrustich reached base four times with a double and three walks.
» U-M turned two double plays for 27 on the season, which leads the nation.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The University of Michigan baseball team fell to Penn State by a 4-3 score on Friday night (March 22) at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to open Big Ten play.

Michigan (7-15, 0-1 Big Ten) had opportunities to score throughout the game but tallied only two hits. Stephen Hrustich reached base four times and tallied the only extra-base hit of the game for Michigan. Dylan Vigue and Jacob Denner combined for a strong performance on the mound with only four combined runs and seven strikeouts.

Penn State (12-7, 1-0 Big Ten) issued 14 walks to the Wolverines but was able to strand runners on base and scored the game-winning run in the ninth on a walk-off error.

U-M had an early chance after three walks with one out loaded the bases in the top of the first, but a popout and strikeout ended the inning. The Wolverines turned a double play for the first two outs of the first inning and Vigue stranded two more with a groundout to end the frame The second inning was also scoreless before Penn State took a 2-0 lead in the third on an RBI single and an error.

The Wolverines left two runners on in the top of the fourth and the Nittany Lions added one more run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly. Two walks with one out put runners on for the Wolverines in the fifth, but once again they could not convert. Denner relieved Vigue on the mound in the fifth inning and retired the first batter he saw to end the frame.

Michigan got on the board in the top of the sixth, starting with Collin Priest reaching on a hit-by-pitch. After a flyout, Will Rogers reached on a fielder's choice which resulted in the second out of the inning. Five straight free passes -- three walks and two hit-by-pitches -- then led to three runs which tied the game. A strikeout ended the inning with the bases loaded.

Denner was strong for the next three innings and allowed just four baserunners over the stretch to keep Penn State to three runs -- and the game tied. Two more runners were left on base in the top of the seventh after a walk and error for Michigan.

Hrustich tallied Michigan's first hit of the game with a ground-rule double in the eighth. In the top of the ninth, Joe Longo singled with one out and advanced as Rogers drew a walk. A strikeout and flyout ended the inning.

Penn State broke the tie as the Nittany Lions scored in the bottom of the ninth on an error to win 4-3.

The Wolverines will continue the series against Penn State on Saturday (March 23) with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on B1G+.