Walks doom Michigan in elimination loss
blew another late-inning lead
against the Hoosiers, as senior right-
hander Mac Lozer — who also had a
perfect ERA — gave up two runs in
the eighth. Michigan kept the game
alive by plating a run in the ninth,
but eventually fell, 5-4, on Indiana’s
walk-off hit in the 13th.
Not only did Michigan lose two
games in heartbreaking fashion, but
its culture of resiliency seemingly
collapsed in Bloomington. Dominant
all season, the Wolverines’ bullpen
imploded,
and
Michigan
never
seemed to recover.
Up Next:
The Wolverines aren’t losing
just any senior class. They will lose
the first group recruited entirely by
Bakich — a group he described as
being “the best group of leaders by
far” in his time at Michigan. This
includes Brdar, Slater, Lozer and
senior catcher Harrison Wenson
— who despite a down offensive
season was indispensable behind
the plate. There’s a good chance
they’ll lose more talent to the MLB
Draft — junior third baseman Drew
Lugbauer led the team with 12 home
runs and possesses the necessary
size, versatility and power to all
fields to make him a prized slugging
prospect, while Lamb and Jaskie
could be drafted highly as well.
However, the Wolverines lost
their top pitcher in Brett Adcock
and top all-around hitter in Carmen
Benedetti to the draft last year,
and
improved
offensively
and
defensively this season. This is a
testament to Bakich’s recruiting
efforts — creating a program that can
quickly fill holes and rebuild after
the departure of key players. And
there will be plenty of talent next
year as it is — there’s a possibility
Michigan’s top four starters in
Jaskie, junior right-handers Alec
Rennard and Ryan Nutof and junior
left-hander Michael Hendrickson
will all be back for their senior
season. On the infield, Thomas and
junior first baseman Jake Bivens will
return, while Lewis, right-fielder
Jonathan Engelmann, designated
hitter/outfielder Nick Poirier and
utility player Jimmy Kerr will look
to take steps forward in their junior
seasons.
Before the season, Bakich stated
it would be hard for any freshman
to consistently see playing time,
but this was more a product of
the experience of the team on the
field and less anything to do with
the class’s potential. Newcomers
such as left-hander Tommy Henry
and right-handers Karl Kauffman
and
Jack
Weisenburger
were
productive when they got the
chance — combining for a 2.88 ERA
and 55 strikeouts in 50 innings —
and should see more innings next
season, while outfielders Christian
Bullock and Dominic Clementi
are likely to carve out roles as well.
Wenson’s impact as catcher can’t be
overstated, but rising sophomores
Marcus Chavez and Harrison Salter
have the potential to complement
each other with their defensive and
offensive skills, respectively.
Next season, Michigan yet again
will bring in the No. 1 recruiting class
in the Big Ten, and the No. 26 class
in the country according to Perfect
Game USA, highlighted by pitchers
Cody Bolton and Blake Beers and
outfielder Jesse Franklin. While
it may be too early to speculate on
how many of the Wolverines’ 14
freshman next season will receive
substantial playing time, it’s clear
that Bakich’s goal is to establish a
perennial power, and this year’s
recruiting class is further indication
that he is doing so.
It’s not often that a college baseball
game is interrupted by a dog.
But with two outs in the fifth
inning, Remington — a golden
retriever that serves as North
Carolina’s in-dugout therapy dog —
ran out on the field.
That
seemingly
innocuous
moment proved to be a turning
point for the Tar Heels’ offense to
break through, this breakthrough
aided by Michigan pitcher Michael
Hendrickson’s
complete
loss
of
control.
The junior left-hander hit two
batters and surrendered two free
passes, including a bases-loaded
walk, in the fifth frame, allowing the
Tar Heels to take a lead they wouldn’t
relinquish off a two-RBI single from
second baseman Ashton McGee.
“(Hendrickson)
was
smooth
sailing, and if I knew (his loss of
control) was going to happen, I
would’ve
warmed
up
someone
sooner,” said Michigan coach Erik
Bakich. “But a couple hits, a couple
walks, and the rally started.”
North Carolina (48-13 overall, 1-1
postseason) defeated the Wolverines,
8-1,
eliminating
the
Michigan
baseball team (42-17, 0-2) from the
Chapel Hill Regional of the NCAA
Tournament.
Despite surrendering just 8 hits,
Wolverine pitchers’ wildness was the
culprit behind the lopsided score.
After Hendrickson was pulled in
the sixth frame, junior right-hander
Ryan Nutof walked another two
batters that would score via a Tar
Heel double and sacrifice fly. And in
the seventh inning, sophomore left-
hander William Tribucher gave away
another two bases-on-balls and an
RBI double, as North Carolina would
extend its lead by two runs.
For the contest, Michigan hurlers
combined to give away 12 free passes,
walking nine and hitting three
batters.
“That’s what North Carolina does
so well,” Bakich said. “They hold the
zone, draw a lot of walks — they have
over 300 on the season. They’re a very
dangerous club when you put them
on base and give them free passes.”
Through four innings, however,
Michigan was the better team.
Junior
third
baseman
Drew
Lugbauer launched a towering solo
homer in the second frame — the
team’s second of the regional —
to open the scoring. Meanwhile,
Hendrickson was effective in forcing
soft contact, inducing two double
plays to erase early Tar Heel threats.
But while the Wolverines’ pitching
became wild, Tar Heel right-hander
Luca Dalatri maintained his control
deep into Saturday’s ball game,
striking out six batters.
Michigan was held hitless after
the fifth inning.
“(Dalatri) attacked the zone with
the fast ball — he’s a good pitcher,”
said senior shortstop Michael Brdar.
“Sometimes, the hits don’t fall, but
you have to tip your cap to a guy who
gave up only one run.”
For a Wolverine squad that showed
promise this season, and reached as
high as 13th in the national rankings,
Michigan’s finish to the season was
especially disappointing to Bakich, as
his team lost its final four games of the
year, and also because the loss marks
the end of the careers of the fifth-year
coach’s first recruiting class.
“This one stings the most out of
the five years our staff has been
here because of the kids we have
on this team,” Bakich said. “Kids
like Michael Brdar and the seniors
have made this ride so much fun.
They’ve been so consistent all
along up until the end.
“You never want it to end when
you’re having so much fun.”
MARK CALCAGNO
Daily Sports Writer
MIGUEL MARTINEZ/Daily
Junior third baseman Drew Lugbauer gave Michigan an early lead with a home run,
but North Carolina scored eight unanswered runs to end the Wolverines’ season.
BASEBALL
From Page 11
12
Thursday, June 8, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS