Late Runs Spell Trouble as U-M Falls to Minnesota

Saturday, May 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:05 PM

Michigan

26-23, 0

Minnesota

33-13, 0

Minnesota

Michigan

5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Minnesota 12, Michigan 5
Records: U-M (26-23, 7-13), Minnesota (33-13, 15-4)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 10 -- vs. Minnesota (Wilpon Complex), 1:05 p.m.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team fought its way back from an early deficit, only to see Minnesota respond to take game two of a three-game Big Ten series, 12-5, on Saturday afternoon (May 9) at the Wilpon Baseball Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. With a four-run sixth, U-M tied the game 5-5 before the Golden Gophers plated seven in the final three innings.

Junior/sophomore designated hitter Jake McLouth(Whitehall, Mich./Grand Rapids CC) went 2-for-4 with a team-high three runs batted in, including his first home run in 31 games to lead the Michigan offense, while junior catcher Chris Berset(Vienna, Va./Heights School) was the only other Wolverine with multiple hits, going 2-for 4 with a run batted in.

The Golden Gophers took an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning off U-M junior starting pitcher Eric Katzman(Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) and added an unearned run in the second inning to grab a 3-0 lead.

The Wolverines responded with a run in the third on a leadoff homer by McLouth -- his first home run not in the state of Florida -- to cut the lead to 3-1.

That is where the score remained as Katzman settled down to work five-and-two-thirds innings while fanning four before giving way to sophomore reliever Kolby Wood(Eau Claire, Mich./Berrien Springs) in the sixth. In that inning, the Gophers added to their lead with a pair of runs, making it 5-1.

Michigan mounted a comeback in its half of the sixth as sophomore shortstop Anthony Toth(Lorain, Ohio/St. Ignatius) delivered a leadoff double and sophomore centerfielder Ryan LaMarre(Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi) walked to set up a one-out RBI double by Berset, cutting the Minnesota lead to 5-2. After junior second baseman Nick Urban(Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall) put the Maize and Blue within two, 5-3, with an RBI single of his own, McLouth followed with a two-run double down the rightfield line, forging a 5-5 tie.

However, Minnesota stormed back with seven runs off sophomore relievers Matt Miller(Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) and Tyler Burgoon(Defiance, Ohio/Defiance) over the final three innings while holding the Wolverines scoreless en route to the 12-5 victory.

Miller took the loss in relief, falling to 0-2 on the season, while Minnesotas Tom Buske improved to 8-3 with the win and Austin Lubinsky picked up his second save of 2009.

The Wolverines will close three-game series with the Golden Gophers on Sunday (May 10) and will celebrate their six-member senior class prior to the game. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.

N O T E S

Michigan (26-23, 7-13 Big Ten) remained a game behind Purdue (7-11) after Saturday's (May 9) 12-5 loss to Minnesota (33-13, 15-4 Big Ten). Michigan State (12-7) defeated Purdue 6-5 in the opening game of a Saturday-Sunday-Monday series in East Lansing, Mich.

Michigan's loss to Minnesota gives the visiting Golden Gophers a 2-0 edge in the three-game series as the Wolverine have dropped six Big Ten series in a season for the first time.

Detroit Tigers legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell was at Saturday's game at Fisher Stadium in the Wilpon Baseball Complex as were former Wolverine baseball lettermen Scott Kamieniecki (1983-86), Fred Erdmann (1980-83) and Greg Haeger (1988-90).

Junior C Chris Berset was 2-for-4 with a run-scoring double to extend his current team lead-sharing hit streak to six games. Berset and freshman C/DH Coley Crank each have six-game hit streaks. Berset is 9-for-14 with eight RBI in four games this week. Berset has seven multi-hit games this season.

Junior/sophomore DH Jake McLouth was 2-for-4 with a double and his sixth home run of the season in Saturday's loss to Minnesota. McLouth has nine multi-hit games in his first season as a Wolverine and has 22 RBI.

Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423