The BG baseball team fell, 2-0, to the Michigan Wolverines in a midweek tilt in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday.
The Falcons started off the game with two strikeouts from first baseman Patrick Lancaster and designated hitter Matt Pitzulo. Second baseman Brandon Howard was hit by Michigan pitcher Ben Ballantine, but was caught trying to steal second base during Pitzulo’s at bat.
Michigan’s offense started the game off with one run in the bottom of first inning. Outfielder Michael O’Neill reached first base on a bunt and then successfully stole second base. Then left fielder Zach Zott hit a single to right field, which allowed O’Neill to score from second base. Right fielder Kevin White ended the Wolverines’ inning with a fly ball to center field.
BG was able to have more success in the top of the second with a walk from catcher T.J. Losby. He advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder Andrew Kubuski. Losby was able to advance to third base on a grounder from right fielder Matt Smith, but the inning would end without a run after shortstop Logan Walker was struck out.
Michigan started the bottom half of the second inning with two straight outs, but it did not let up and forced BG pitcher Brett Fitzwater to walk two straight batters. An error from Lancaster let the Wolverines take a 2-0 lead after the second inning.
The rest of the game turned into a pitchers duel. Even though BG was able to get five hits, they were unable to score a run. The Falcons left 11 runners on base during their game against the Wolverines.
Fitzwater pitched three innings during the game, but was taken out after the third inning. Five other pitchers (Miller, Link, Daugherty, Singer and Bruns) would follow him and pitch an inning a piece. Fitzwater let up both runs and was recorded as the losing pitcher, knocking his record to 1-2 on the season.
Michigan used four pitchers during the game against BG. Starting pitcher Ballantine lasted 2.1 innings, but Matt Ogden followed and pitched 3.2 innings, which made him the winning pitcher. Pitcher Jacob Cronenworth pitched the top of the ninth inning to close the game, earning his fourth save on the season.
The Falcons will return to BG this weekend for a three-game series against Mid-American Conference opponent Eastern Michigan on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
