Rennard's Gem Not Enough as Wolverines Drop Series to Minnesota

Saturday, May 6

Minneapolis, Minn.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

22-22, 0

Minnesota

14-30, 0

Michigan

Minnesota

Noah Rennard (Michigan Photography)

Rennard's Gem Not Enough as Wolverines Drop Series to Minnesota

5/6/2023 5:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Conor Stemme

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan baseball team held a 2-0 lead after the top of the eighth inning, but a Minnesota comeback led to a 4-2 loss on Saturday (May 6) at Siebert Field after a strong start from Noah Rennard.

Rennard was charged with two runs and scattered three hits over a career-high 7.1 innings, and until the eighth was in command -- he allowed one hit over seven frames and retired 15 straight Gophers between the third and eighth innings.

Michigan and Minnesota were locked in a pitcher's duel from the first pitch as both teams went three up, three down in the first. The Wolverines (22-22, 9-8 Big Ten) got the first hits of the afternoon with back-to-back singles in the second from Jack Van Remortel and Tito Flores. Voit hit a fly ball to right field, but Van Remortel was thrown out at the home plate to end the top of the second.

Noah Rennard allowed his first hit of the day in the bottom of the second, a single through the left side. Minnesota (13-31, 7-10 Big Ten) also drew a two-out walk, but a strikeout ended the inning.

U-M got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning. Jimmy Obertop drew a walk with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Obertop advanced to third on a fielder's choice, Mitch Voit doubled to left-center and Obertop scored to put Michigan ahead 1-0.

After the top of the fourth, both teams combined to manage only one hit -- a Jonathan Kim single to lead off the sixth -- until the eighth.

Greg Pace Jr. homered to right field to lead off the eighth inning to push the Michigan lead to 2-0. Rennard retook the mound and retired the first batter on a flyout but the next two Minnesota batters singled, leading head coach Tracy Smith to make a change and Voit took to the mound. He walked the first two batters he faced to force a run home and cut the U-M lead to 2-1. The next hitter doubled to left, scoring two and giving the Gophers their first lead at 3-2. They added another run on a sacrifice fly before Voit (2-1) got out of the inning.

The Wolverines had a chance in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and just one out. Van Remortel drew a walk and Flores legged out an infield single to the left side before Voit singled to left field to load the bases. Joe Longo pinch hit but was unable to convert the chance and grounded into a game-ending double play.

Michigan will conclude its series against Minnesota on Sunday (May 7) at Siebert Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT, and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.