Michigan Walks Off Against Ohio State to Open Series

Friday, April 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

21-15, 7-3

Ohio State

12-22, 2-9

Ohio State

Michigan

Riley Bertram scores the winning run (Andrew Woolley photo)

4/22/2022 5:11:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Clark Elliott's bases-loaded single in the 10th won the game for U-M.
» Jimmy Obertop hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. He had two homers on the day.
» Jack Van Remortel had three hits, including his first homer of the season.
» Michigan stranded five base runners in the seventh and eighth innings

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball erased multiple deficits against Ohio State on Friday (April 22) and Clark Elliott won the game for the Wolverines with a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning for a 9-8 victory against the Buckeyes at Ray Fisher Stadium.

Ohio State led the game by scores of 5-0, 7-3 and 8-6 with the latter score entering the ninth inning against a Michigan team that had stranded five base runners in the seventh and eighth innings combined. Then, Ray Fisher Stadium magic happened.

Down to its final strike of the game against OSU closer Ethan Hammerberg, Michigan's Matt Frey drew a full-count walk. Up stepped Jimmy Obertop, already with one home run in the game. The junior catcher crushed a first-pitch fastball from Hammerberg high over the left field wall to tie the game and go into extra innings.

In the 10th inning, Riley Bertram laced a leadoff single to center. Jack Van Remortel, who also played a starring role in the game, laid down a sacrifice bunt that first baseman Zach Dezenzo pounced on. But Dezenzo stumbled, kicked the ball and then threw wide of first base with everyone being safe on the play. Jake Marti then pinch-hit and, down to his final strike, laid down a sacrifice bunt of his own and again OSU was unable to make the play, loading the bases for Elliott. Elliott fell behind in the count, 0-2 before seeing two more pitches and roping his third hit of the game into right-center field to win the game.

The comeback made a winner of Noah Rennard, who dazzled in relief for Michigan, throwing 4.0 important innings, allowing two runs while striking out three batters.

Ohio State jumped out to a five-run second inning as the Buckeyes consistently blooped balls around the field without registering a hard-hit ball and adding a run on a throwing error. Michigan responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame on solo home runs by Obertop and Van Remortel.

Michigan scratched for a run in the third as Joe Stewart got his way on base, eventually stealing third and scoring on an RBI groundout by Ted Burton.

OSU made it a 6-3 game in the fifth when Dezenzo lifted his team-leading 10th home run and Marcus Ernst led off the seventh inning with another solo shot for a 7-3 lead.

Michigan edged back into contention in the bottom of the seventh as Van Remortel drove a two-run double to left-center, his 10th double of the year, to make it a 7-5 game. Michigan put runners in scoring position with no outs for the top of the order but OSU reliever TJ Brock got a pair of strikeouts and a popup to get out of trouble.

Ernst added an important insurance run in the eighth as Ernst hit a low liner through the right side on a 2-2 fastball to give the Buckeyes an 8-5 lead.

Michigan again threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out against Hammerberg, who got a key strikeout before hitting Joey Velazquez to force in a run. Hammerberg then went to a full count against Elliott but induced a groundout to get out of the inning.

Elliott's three hits led U-M while Obertop, Tito Flores and Van Remortel all had two hits. Ernst led OSU with three hits.

The teams will continue the series on Saturday (April 23) at 2 p.m.