Michigan Falls Late in Midweek Contest to Western Michigan

Tuesday, April 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

14-19

Western Michigan

16-13

Western Michigan

Michigan

Joonsung Park (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Falls Late in Midweek Contest to Western Michigan

4/9/2024 8:17:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan fell 10-9 to Western Michigan after the Broncos scored five runs in the ninth inning.
» Joonsung Park hit his first home run as a Wolverine.
» Cole Caruso was one of five Wolverines with two hits and scored twice.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team dropped a 10-9 game to visiting Western Michigan in a non-conference meeting on Tuesday (April 9) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Leading 9-5 heading into the ninth inning, the Broncos put five runs on the board which included a grand slam to take a 10-9 lead heading into the home half of the frame. The Wolverines got a one-out single from Kyle Dernedde, but he remained stranded to end the game.

Michigan (14-19) tallied nine runs on 14 hits with Cole Caruso leading the way. He was one of five Wolverines with multiple hits and scored two runs. Joonsung Park also tallied two hits, one of which was his first career home run. Chase Allen threw 5.2 innings, allowing four runs.

Western Michigan (16-13) used 10 pitchers on the day with only one going more than 1.1 innings. The Broncos scored 10 runs on 10 hits, including the go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth.

After a scoreless first inning, WMU scored four runs in the top of the second. Three Broncos hits, including two run-scoring singles, helped them to an early lead.

U-M responded and took the lead in the bottom of the frame, scoring five runs on four hits. Park hit his first home run as a Wolverine with one out to open the scoring for Michigan. Brock Leitgeb followed with a double and the Wolverines loaded the bases after a walk and a hit-by-pitch. The runners all advanced on a wild pitch, with Leitgeb scoring, before a two-run double from Mitch Voit tied the game at four. Voit scored on a Collin Priest single and U-M led 5-4 after two.

Allen settled in after the second inning and retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced before being removed in the top of the sixth inning for Zach Slayden. The Wolverine bats stayed hot as Caruso scored on a Dernedde scarifice fly in the third to push their lead to 6-4. U-M added two more in the fifth following Caruso scoring on a passed ball Jack Counsell crossing the plate on an AJ Garcia single.

The Broncos scored one in the eighth on a sacrifice fly, but U-M got the run back on a Caruso single that scored Trevor Kilinski, setting up the decisive ninth inning.

U-M will continue its homestand on Wednesday (April 10) against Wisconsin Milwaukee at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be streamed live on B1G+.