ANN ARBOR - A five-run first inning by Michigan was too much for Central Michigan to overcome Wednesday afternoon, as it fell at Fisher Stadium, 7-3.
The Chippewas (12-17) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when junior Jordan Dean hit his fifth home run of the season, but the Wolverines (13-16) came right back with five runs of their own.
Freshman Matt Trowbridge lasted just one inning after giving up five runs - four earned - on two hits and four walks as the lefty was forced to throw 59 pitches in the first frame.
Trowbridge walked the first two batters he faced and a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance before a Dean error allowed Patrick Biondi to score, tying the game, 1-1. Will Drake followed with a RBI single to give Michigan the lead, 2-1, and Trowbridge walked two more batters to plate another.
The Wolverines' Cole Martin capped the inning by hitting a two-RBI single through the left side and U of M led, 5-1, after one.
Redshirt freshman Dylan Rheault replaced Trowbridge and had his longest outing of the season, throwing six strong innings and giving up just two runs - one earned - on three hits while fanning five.
Rheault's outing allowed the Chippewas to stay in the game, as senior Tyler Hall singled in Dean and senior Nate Theunissen drove him in two batters later to pull within three, 6-3. Michigan added a run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run by Coley Crank for the final 7-3 tally.
The Chippewas had a chance to tie the game in the top of the sixth and eighth innings when they loaded the bases for Dean, but the junior grounded into a inning-ending double play in the sixth and lined out to right field in the eighth.
CMU stranded 11 batters in all in the game and suffered its third-straight loss despite out-hitting the Maize and Blue, 9-5.
Senior William Arnold went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Chippewas, while Theunissen finished 2-for-5 with a RBI.
The Chippewas are back in action this Friday when they return to Theunissen Stadium for a three-game Mid-American Conference series versus Toledo. First pitch for Friday is set for 3:05 p.m.
