Key Hits Elude Michigan Late in One-Run Loss to San Diego State

Monday, February 26

San Diego, Calif.

6:00 PM PT

Michigan

2-5

San Diego State

6-2

Michigan

San Diego State

Jonathan Engelmann

Key Hits Elude Michigan Late in One-Run Loss to San Diego State

2/26/2018 11:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Michigan scored first for a 1-0 lead but surrendered four runs in the fifth inning.
» The Wolverines totaled seven hits but struck out 13 times.
» The defeat marks Michigan's second one-run loss this season.

Site: San Diego, Calif. (Tony Gwynn Stadium)
Score: San Diego State 4, Michigan 3
Records: U-M (2-5), SDSU (6-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 2 -- at Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.), 6:05 p.m. PST

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The University of Michigan baseball team took an early lead over the San Diego State Aztecs on Monday night (Feb. 26) but surrendered four runs in the fifth inning and fell by a 4-3 score at Tony Gwynn Stadium to close out the first half of the Wolverines' West Coast road swing.

Michigan struck first, plating a run in the top of the first inning on a leadoff single from Ako Thomas and a San Diego State error that allowed him to score from second.

The Wolverines led by one run until the bottom of the fifth, when five hits, a walk, and a hit batter allowed San Diego State to rally for a 4-1 lead.

Sophomore Dominic Clementi got things going in the top of the seventh inning by beating out an infield single, and junior Jonathan Engelmann followed with a base hit to rightfield to give Michigan runners on the corners. With one out on the board, redshirt junior Miles Lewis came up with the clutch RBI single to left, scoring Clementi and cutting the deficit to two, but U-M ended up stranding runners on second and third.

Thomas led off the eighth with a single to left, and a walk to sophomore Christan Bullock gave Michigan two men on. After a San Diego State pitching change, a walk to redshirt freshman Marcus Chavez loaded the bases with no outs. Back-to-back strikeouts followed, but Engelmann sent a 3-1 pitch to right and scored Thomas before Bullock was thrown out at home plate to end the inning.

Junior Blake Nelson drew a two-out walk in the top of the ninth, but a fielder's choice ended the contest.

Michigan totaled seven hits and three walks but struck out 13 times and left seven runners on base.

Senior righty Jayce Vancena took the loss in 4.1 innings pitched, which marked his first appearance of the season.

Sophomore Jack Weisenburger and freshman Jeff Criswell both appeared in relief, surrendering one run on two hits. As a whole, the pitching staff struck out six batters and gave up just one walk.

The Wolverines will return to action on Friday (March 2) when they kick off a four-game series at Stanford. First pitch for Friday's contest is set for 6:05 p.m. PST in Palo Alto, California.