Comeback Falls Short in Series Finale vs. Illinois

Sunday, April 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

25-7, 0

Illinois

11-18, 0

Illinois

Michigan

4/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 9, 2017

» Michigan's bullpen combined to allow just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts.
» Johnny Slater led Michigan with three hits on the day, while Ako Thomas and Nick Poirier picked up two hits apiece.
» The loss snaps a nine-game win streak for the Wolverines and a six-game win streak in Big Ten action.

• Box Score | Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: Illinois 7, #18 Michigan 5
Records: U-M (25-7, 6-3 B1G), ILL (11-18, 1-5 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, April 11 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Wilpon Complex), 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After trailing 6-0 through three innings on Sunday (April 9), the No. 18-ranked University of Michigan baseball fell short in its comeback as the Wolverines dropped a 7-5 decision to Illinois at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The loss snaps a nine-game win streak for the Wolverines. All but two of Michigan's seven losses on the season have come by two runs or less.

After a scoreless first inning, Illinois got on the scoreboard in the top of the second, plating three runs on three hits and a Michigan error. That momentum carried into the third for the Illini, as a three-run home run extended the Illinois lead to 6-0.

Down six, Michigan rallied in the bottom of the third for four runs on three hits to cut the deficit to two. Sophomore Nick Poirier led off the inning with a walk, giving Michigan its first base runner of the game. Sophomore Jonathan Engelmann followed with the Wolverines' first hit of the contest, stroking a double down the left-field line to put two men in scoring position. Senior Harrison Wenson was then hit by pitch to load the bases, and one out later, senior Johnny Slater singled through the right side, scoring both Poirier and Engelmann. With two men still on base, junior Drew Lugbauer continued the rally with a two-RBI double down the right-field line to make the score 6-4.

Following a scoreless fourth, the Wolverines added another run in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Ako Thomas led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch.

Illinois pushed its lead back to two with a run in the top of the seventh, but senior Mac Lozer and freshman Tommy Henry came on in relief and combined to close out the inning, leaving two additional Illini runners stranded.

A scoreless eighth inning followed, and though Michigan put two runners on base in the ninth, Illinois escaped the jam with a game-ending strikeout to clinch its first conference win of the season.

Overall, Michigan tallied nine hits on the day, including a season-high three from Slater and two apiece from Thomas and Poirier. Thomas extended his reached-base streak to 32 games in the effort.

Junior lefty Michael Hendrickson picked up his first loss of the season on Sunday, tossing 2.1 innings, before junior Alec Rennard was the first pitcher called out of the bullpen. Rennard, Lozer, Henry and senior Jackson Lamb combined to allow just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts through the remainder of the contest.

No. 18-ranked Michigan will return to action on Tuesday (April 11) when the Wolverines host cross-county opponent Eastern Michigan in a midweek matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. [ Tickets ]