Early Lead Not Enough as U-M Falls to Coastal Carolina in Extras

Friday, March 8

Conway, S.C.

4:00 PM

Michigan

5-9

Coastal Carolina

12-2

Michigan

Coastal Carolina

(Michigan Photography)

Early Lead Not Enough as U-M Falls to Coastal Carolina in Extras

3/8/2024 9:46:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan fell, 8-7, to Coastal Carolina in 12 innings on Friday after taking a 5-0 lead.
» Three Wolverines tallied two hits in the game with Timbrook, Voit and Caruso all reaching twice.
» Will Rogers struck out the side after loading the bases in the 11th inning.

CONWAY, S.C. -- In a 12-inning heartbreaker, the University of Michigan baseball team fell to No.18-ranked Coastal Carolina, 8-7, on a walk-off home run Friday night (March 8) from Springs Brooks Stadium.

Michigan (5-9) was strong early and led 5-0 after three innings following two home runs from Stephen Hrustich and Joe Longo. Dylan Vigue was also strong on the mound to start and allowed just a leadoff single for his only hit of the night. Will Rogers came into relief in the seventh inning and pitched the remainder of the game for a new career high of 4.1 innings pitched.

Coastal Carolina (12-2) struggled to start but strung together some walks, a home run to tie the game in the fifth and a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th to secure the win.

Mack Timbrook doubled to open the game for Michigan and was brought home with a Hrustich home run which gave U-M an early lead. Vigue was able to hold the Chanticleers to just one base runner in the first after three groundouts ended the inning. U-M extended its lead with a Joe Longo two-out solo home run -- his first of the season. Coastal Carolina threatened for the first time with two runners on base, but Vigue was able to strike out three in the inning to keep the Chanticleers scoreless.

Timbrook led off the third, this time with a single and scored on a Mitch Voit RBI double. After two outs, Cole Caruso singled to left field which allowed Voit to score and gave U-M a 5-0 lead. The Chanticleers got their first run of the game after two walks opened the inning and two groundouts advanced the runners and allowed one to score. A flyout to shortstop ended the inning leaving one on. Michigan was held scoreless for the first time in the fourth and Coastal took advantage and tied the game in the bottom of the inning. After three walks loaded the bases, the Chanticleers hit a grand slam to tie the game at five.

After 10 runs over the first four innings, the pitchers took control and allowed just two baserunners combined over the next three innings. Jacob Denner pitched 1.2 scoreless after giving up the grand slam as Brandon Mann and Rogers combined for the other 2.1 scoreless innings.

In the top of the eighth, U-M retook the lead after two walks and just one out. Caruso singled to left center which allowed Hrustich to score. After a second out, Cooper Mullens pinch hit and shot a single to left field for his first career hit and Bradley Navarro scored from second. A strikeout ended the inning and left two runners on base. Coastal Carolina answered after a leadoff single and walk before a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to scoring position. The next batter singled to right field and tied the game. Rogers was able to force two groundouts to end the inning and keep the score knotted at eight.

U-M threatened in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out after a single, hit by pitch and walk but a double play ended the inning. Rogers got two Chanticleers to strike out and forced a flyout to force extra innings. Both teams went down in order in the 10th inning.

Timbrook walked with one out in the top of the 11th but was called out as Voit reached on a fielder's choice. Voit moved to second on a wild pitch and Hrustich was intentionally walked, but a lineout ended the inning. The Chanticleers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th after a double, single and intentional walk before Rogers got three batters in a row to strike out swinging.

In the 12th inning, Caruso drew a walk with one out and advanced to second on a groundout, but a strikeout ended the inning.

The Wolverines will continue the series at Coastal Carolina on Saturday (March 9) from Springs Brooks Stadium. The game is set for 2 p.m., and it will stream live on ESPN+.