10 Thursday, June 1, 2017 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS Jacob Shames: What happened? BASEBALL The longest game in Big Ten Tournament history — a 13-inning epic between Michigan and Indiana — had just concluded. The triumphant team entered the post- game press conference to revisit the previous four hours and 28 minutes. “We’re almost better with our backs against the wall,” said the player who had delivered the game-winning hit in the final frame. “We don’t give up.” Added the winning coach: “They’re used to playing a little bit better when there’s pressure. And it’s been like that all season long.” If one saw those quotes without attribution, they might immediately assign them to Michigan. But neither statement was uttered by a Wolverine. Instead, it was Hoosier left-fielder Alex Krupa, and his coach, Chris Lemonis, recounting their team’s 5-4 elimination-game victory, which knocked Michigan (42-15) out of the tournament after just two games. It’s not only that the second-seeded Wolverines suffered two straight upset losses. Superior teams are sometimes defeated. That’s the nature of sports, and especially postseason play. But Michigan was eliminated in a fashion few could have predicted. The Wolverines never forgot their collapse at the end of last season which knocked them out of NCAA Tournament contention. In the offseason they went to work, steeling their resolve and using the painful memories of 2016 to forge the “fighter mentality” that coach Erik Bakich has extolled all season. Before the season, Michigan believed it would have a potent offense and a deep pitching staff. Both of those assumptions turned out to be true, as the Wolverines scored more and allowed fewer runs than anyone else in the Big Ten. In terms of talent, this was the most complete team in the conference. But maybe just as importantly, Michigan had an identity. Mentality is, of course, impossible to quantify. Not even the most dedicated observer can say that the Wolverines’ success in the face of adversity has come solely because they are tougher or more motivated than their opponents. But for 55 games, Michigan’s results under pressure backed up this idea of resiliency. Coming into the Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines had won six games in the ninth inning or later, as opposed to just two such games a year ago. With an emphasis on quality at-bats (Michigan led the Big Ten in on-base percentage) and two relievers in Mac Lozer and Jackson Lamb who had not given up a run in 51.1 innings, this is a team used to dominating in clutch scenarios — the same ones it faced against Northwestern and Indiana. Wednesday’s Big Ten Tournament opener was the exact type of game the Wolverines pride themselves on their ability to win. In unpleasant, rainy conditions, Michigan had come back from an early two-run deficit to shut down the Wildcats and claw its way ahead, 4-3. It wasn’t pretty. But this is postseason baseball. An ugly win is still a win. And it looked like the Wolverines were going to get one, with Lamb taking the mound in the ninth inning. But to the surprise of everyone except for Northwestern and its fans, Lamb surrendered a leadoff single. Then a wild pitch. Then a single and a walk to load the bases with no outs. Sophomore left-hander William Tribucher couldn’t stop the bleeding, and he allowed all three inherited runners to score. And down 6-4 with three outs left, Michigan — maybe for the first time all season — was without an answer. “50-some games where we’ve been pretty consistent (in the ninth inning) so I just look at this as a fluke, just a speed bump,” Bakich said. “Our guys have responded every time they’ve been knocked down all season and they’ll respond tomorrow.” But they didn’t. Leading the Hoosiers 3-2 in the eighth inning, Lozer — who had given up just six hits in 23 innings — gave up a leadoff double. He settled down to record two quick outs, but three straight base hits delivered Indiana the lead. The Wolverines staged their own two-out rally to send the game to extras in the ninth inning. But it was clear they had met their match in late-inning resiliency. The two most important games of their season contradicted the entire three months that came before. Maybe we didn’t take all the variables of postseason play into account. Maybe we overlooked the fact that Michigan, despite a 16-8 Big Ten record, was just 2-4 against the conference’s top six teams. Maybe fatigue had caught up to the Wolverines — Bakich explained that Lamb was dealing with some shoulder soreness Wednesday. “He didn’t look as sharp as he normally is and sometimes when you’re a closer that’s what happens,” Bakich said. “If you’re a closer, some days you’re going to have that happen.” That’s what happens. Maybe you could apply that to the entire team. It may not be the clearest answer. But the question of “what happened?” doesn’t call for clarity. Shames can be reached at jacosham@umich.edu or on Twitter @Jacob_Shames. CEREN BURCAK DAG/Daily Junior third baseman Drew Lugbauer in a game against Ohio State on May 7. JACOB SHAMES Summer Managing Sports Editor Indiana ousts ‘M’ from Big Ten tournament As the ball wrapped around third base and rolled into the outfield, the Michigan baseball team knew its hopes of a Big Ten Tournament Championship were over. Indiana (33-21-2) had taken the Wolverines to 13 innings and brought the runner from second across the plate to hand Michigan (42-15) a 5-4 loss. “Heck of a college baseball game,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich. “Two good teams going at it. A lot of little plays under the microscop. … Both teams had opportunities throughout the game. Big defensive plays were made by both teams, big pitches were made by both teams, big hits. “A very good baseball game and (I’m) disappointed we didn’t come out on top.” With their ace pitcher on the bump, the Wolverines were primed to redeem themselves after an opening round loss to Northwestern the day before. Junior left-hander Oliver Jaskie didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. He had nine strikeouts through seven innings, but in the bottom of the seventh inning he allowed a two-run home run to Indiana centerfielder Craig Dedelow to tie the game. The home run was the first scoring play since the second inning, where the Wolverines had struck first. Junior first baseman Jake Bivens led off with a single to right-field, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly. With the first run of the game just 90 feet from the plate, sophomore Jonathan Engelmann blasted a single up the middle to score Bivens. Engelmann would later be the second run of the inning after senior centerfielder Johnny Slater ripped a ground rule double to centerfield. After Dedelow’s game-tying homer, Michigan had to go to work again. It responded right away by taking the lead in the top of the eighth inning on an Indiana error that allowed junior third baseman Drew Lugbauer to score from second. A groundout ended the inning and stranded Bivens on third base, but the Wolverines hoped the one-run lead would be enough. Senior right-hander Mac Lozer, who coming into this contest had a 0.00 earned-run average and had allowed just seven hits through 25 innings, took the mound. But in similar fasion as Wednesday’s contest, the bullpen couldn’t get the job done. A leadoff double to left- center field set the Hoosiers up for a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. A slow grounder to shortstop would score the tying run after senior Michael Brdar considered trying to make the play at the plate but went for the guaranteed out at first base. With two outs, Lozer allowed three consecutive singles, which scored another run and gave Indiana the lead heading into the ninth inning. However, the Hoosiers weren’t the only ones that could rally with two outs. After sophomore second baseman Ako Thomas was hit by a pitch, a Brdar single through the right side advanced him to second. But Lugbauer did the most damage with a single through the left side. Thomas scored easily, but Indiana’s left- fielder slightly bobbled the ball which brought the go-ahead run to third base. Unfortunately for Michigan, a checked swing strikeout would strand two men on base. Eager to end it, the Wolverines made some noise in the 12th inning. Lugbauer began the inning with a walk and was followed by a single. With two men on and no outs, Michigan’s chances of scoring looked good. But Lugbauer was caught in no man’s land and Indiana’s catcher threw him out. The play shifted the momentum of the inning, and the Wolverines went down quietly. In the 13th inning, it appeared Michigan had played out of a jam and would live to see another frame. After an overthrow by sophomore third baseman Jimmy Kerr and a four-ball walk, the Hoosiers had two men on with no outs. But two clutch strikeouts from sophomore left- hander William Tribucher gave the Wolverines hope — until left-fielder Alex Krupa’s hit ended Michigan’s tournament. It was a strong showing by both teams. But in the end, the Wolverines couldn’t string enough hits together, and the 13 batters they left on base came back to haunt them. “There’s no question about the fight and character of this group,” Bakich said. “If I know this group at all, which I do, this will piss them off a little bit. They wanted to be Big Ten Champions and we didn’t get that done. But they’ll get back at it this week, and whatever happens, wherever we go, we’ll be ready.” PAIGE VOEFFRAY Daily Sports Writer