Pitching, Walk-Off Sac Fly Push U-M to Win over Iowa

Wednesday, May 23

Omaha, Neb.

9:00 AM CT

Michigan

33-19

Iowa

33-19

Iowa

Michigan

5/23/2018 2:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» The score was tied at 1 through nine innings but a sacrifice fly from Jesse Franklin in the bottom of the 10th pushed Michigan to a 2-1 walk-off win.
» Michigan pitchers allowed only one hit and faced just four batters over the minimum in
addition to retiring 20 straight batters to close out the game.
» The Wolverines will advance to the next round of the Big Ten Tournament and face the winner of Purdue/Ohio State on Thursday at 5 p.m. CDT.

Site: Omaha, Neb. (TD Ameritrade Park)
Event: Big Ten Tournament
Score: Michigan 2, Iowa 1 (10 innings)
Records: U-M (33-19), IOWA (33-19)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, May 24 – Big Ten Tournament - vs. Purdue (Omaha, Neb.), 5 p.m. CDT

OMAHA, Neb. -- A dominant pitching performance and a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning propelled the University of Michigan baseball team to a 2-1 victory over Iowa on Wednesday (May 23) in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament at TD Ameritrade Park.

With the score tied at 1 after nine innings, Michigan was forced to play extra innings for the third time this season. The Wolverine pitching staff did not allow a baserunner through the ninth or 10th innings, which gave Michigan the momentum it needed going into the bottom of the 10th.

Sophomores Christan Bullock and Dominic Clementi got the 10th going with back-to-back walks, and junior Jonathan Engelmann beat out an infield single to load the bases with one out. Freshman Jesse Franklin came up with the walk-off RBI with a sac fly to right field that allowed Bullock to score for the 2-1 win.

The story of the game was Michigan pitching as the Wolverine staff allowed just one hit on the day. After surrendering an unearned run in the top of the second, the Maize and Blue combined to face the minimum 24 batters over the next seven innings. Following a leadoff walk in the fourth, the staff retired the next 20 Hawkeye hitters in order.

Michigan starter Tommy Henry tossed 1.1 innings before leaving the game in the top of the second due to an injury sustained on a comebacker. Following his departure, senior righty Alec Rennard took the mound in relief and tossed 5.2 scoreless innings of relief, surrendering just one hit and walking one.

Iowa took advantage of the injury delay and pitching change in the top of the second to plate an unearned run and take a one-run lead.

A scoreless third inning followed, but Franklin homered in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 1.

Freshman Jeff Criswell and junior William Tribucher closed out the game for the Wolverines on the mound, tossing a combined three scoreless frames with three strikeouts. As the pitcher of record in the 10th, Tribucher (4-3) earned the win.

Michigan (33-19) will advance to the winner's bracket and face Purdue on Thursday (May 24). First pitch is scheduled at 5 p.m. CDT at TD Ameritrade Park and the game will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.