Wolverines Shock Illini To Secure At-Large NCAA Baseball Tournament Bid
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Jordan Nwogu drilled a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to push Michigan past Illinois 5-4 on Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament.
Ako Thomas also had a pair of RBIs for Michigan (39-17), which rallied from a 3-0 hole to solidify its at-large NCAA Tournament hopes.
Michigan tied it at 3-all on a two-RBI double by Thomas in the bottom of the seventh. The Wolverine pitchers couldn't hold it, walking three batters — including a go-ahead run — in the top of the eighth.
But Garrett Acton (2-3), the national leader with 19 saves, allowed runners to reach first and third — and Nwogu drilled a walk-off double to the left field gap.
Kellen Sarver had a pair of RBIs for Illinois (36-19), the first team to be sent home from Omaha.
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