Michigan Overcomes Seven-Run Deficit to Upend Illini

Friday, April 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

24-6, 0

Illinois

10-17, 0

Illinois

Michigan

4/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 7, 2017

» Michigan was behind 7-0 after three innings but launched the team's biggest comeback since 2010 to win the game by a 9-8 score.
» Drew Lugbauer blasted his second grand slam of the season with a four-run bomb in the fifth to put Michigan within one.
» An RBI from Nick Poirier tied the game in the fifth, and Miles Lewis knocked in the go-ahead run in the seventh with an RBI double.
» The Wolverines have now won eight straight, including seven straight at home.

• Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #18 Michigan 9, Illinois 8
Records: U-M (24-6, 5-2 B1G), ILL (10-17, 0-4 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 8 -- vs. Illinois (Wilpon Complex), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite falling behind 7-0 after the first three innings, the No. 18-ranked University of Michigan baseball team rallied for three- and five-run innings in back-to-back frames to defeat Illinois by a score of 9-8 on Friday (April 7) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The win extends Michigan's win streak to eight straight. The seven-run deficit is the largest Michigan has overcome for a victory since May 16, 2010, against Northwestern, when the Wolverines were down 14-0 after three innings and won the game 15-14 in the 10th.

Illinois got on the board quickly, using a leadoff solo homer in the top of the first and an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. The Fighting Illini then added five more runs in the third inning, taking advantage of a leadoff triple, timely hits and a Michigan error to go up 7-0.

After four scoreless outings, the Wolverines responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating three runs to cut the deficit to four. Senior Johnny Slater got things going with a one-out single to right field, and later scored on an RBI double by senior Michael Brdar, who then scored on a two-out RBI single by sophomore Miles Lewis. Following a walk to junior Jake Bivens, sophomore Nick Poirier kept the hit parade going with a line-drive RBI single to right-center field.

Illinois tacked on another run in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 8-3, but Michigan responded in a big way, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 8-8. Following a leadoff single by senior Harrison Wenson, a single from Slater and a walk to Brdar, junior Drew Lugbauer sent his ninth home run and second grand slam of the season over the left-field wall to put Michigan within one. A walk to Lewis and an Illinois error put runners on first and third for Poirier, who grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Lewis to tie the game.

Following scoreless two innings of relief by sophomore lefty William Tribucher, Michigan took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. A one-out walk to Lugbauer followed by an RBI double from Lewis gave Michigan the advantage at 9-8.

Senior Mac Lozer pitched the eighth inning and stranded runners on the corners to hold the lead. Senior closer Jackson Lamb then came in to pitch the ninth inning and retired the side in order to seal the win for the Wolverines and record his eighth save of the season.

Junior lefty Oliver Jaskie started the game and received a no decision in the effort, tossing three complete innings and allowing six hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Karl Kauffmann, Tribucher, Lozer and Lamb stepped up for Michigan in relief. The quartet allowed just four hits, one run and combined for three strikeouts in six innings.

Overall, Michigan tallied 10 hits on the day, including two from Slater, two from Brdar and three from Lewis. With his RBI double in the fourth inning, Brdar extended his hitting streak to 16 games, and sophomore Ako Thomas extended his on-base streak to 30 games with a walk in the eighth inning.

Tweet of the Day

OPPOSITE FIELD SLAM BAM FROM #SLUGBAUER!!!!

That's his SECOND GRAND SLAM of the year, folks! pic.twitter.com/x8n0GIKfc9

-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) April 7, 2017

The No. 18-ranked Wolverines will return to action on Saturday (April 8) for the second game of the three-game series with Illinois. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, and fans can watch the game live on BTN Plus. [ Tickets ]