U-M Drops Season Opener to Seton Hall

Friday, February 17

Port St Lucie, Fla.

3:00 PM

Michigan

0-1

Seton Hall

1-0

Seton Hall

Michigan

2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 17, 2017

» Sophomore-transfer Nick Poirier blasted Michigan's first home run of the season --a solo shot over the right field wall during the fourth inning.
» Until Friday, Michigan had not lost at Tradition Field since the 2014 season.
» The close game featured just a one hit difference between the two teams.

• Box Score | Photo Gallery

Site: Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Tradition Field)
Score: Seton Hall 5, Michigan 4
Records: U-M (0-1), SHU (1-0)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 18 -- DH vs. Seton Hall (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), 11 a.m.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A one-run sixth inning was the deciding factor on Friday (Feb. 17), as the University of Michigan baseball team (0-1) dropped a 5-4 decision to Seton Hall (1-0) in the 2017 season opener.

After holding Seton Hall scoreless for the first two innings, Michigan jumped on the board in the bottom of the second inning with three runs on three hits. Sophomore Jimmy Kerr got things going with Michigan's first hit of the game, and a single from Michael Brdar and a walk to Nick Poirier put three men on. With the bases loaded, senior Johnny Slater came up clutch with a sacrifice flyout to centerfield, which forced a Seton Hall error and allowed two runs to score. With a Poirier still on second base, sophomore Ako Thomas singled through the left side, allowing Poirier to cross home plate for a 3-0 Michigan lead.

Seton Hall answered back in the top of the third inning with a lone run, but a walk and three hits in the top of the fourth allowed the Pirates to plate three more runs and take a 4-3 lead.

A solo home run from Poirier in the bottom of the fourth forced a tie ballgame and the teams battled from there.

Following a scoreless fifth, Seton Hall used a bunt single, a stolen base and an RBI single to score one run in the top of the sixth inning, and take the defining lead.

Despite having three men on base through the next four innings, Michigan was unable to score again.

The Michigan pitching staff surrendered seven walks and eight hits in the contest, totaling seven strikeouts.

From the plate, the Wolverines totaled seven hits and forced two Seton Hall errors with aggressive base running. Thomas and junior Jake Bivens each picked up a stolen base on the day, while Poirier and junior Drew Lugbauer recorded extra-base hits.

Michigan and Seton Hall will return to play on Saturday (Feb. 18) for a doubleheader. First pitch of the first game is set for 11 a.m. at Field 5 just behind Tradition Field of the New York Mets Spring Training Complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt