Late rally dooms Michigan baseball in Big Ten tournament quarters

Michigan baseball will have to play for its postseason lives the rest of the weekend.

One day after winning its Big Ten tournament opener, the Wolverines fell short in the quarterfinal round Thursday, losing 9-5 to eighth-seed Penn State at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

A six-run eighth inning proved to be the difference for the Nittany Lions, who plated four runs on a go-ahead grand slam off the bat of Bryce Molinaro. Michigan had taken a 5-3 lead earlier in the inning thanks to a three-run home run by Mitch Voit, only to watch it evaporate minutes later.

Reliever Ricky Kidd took the loss after giving up back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases for Molinaro (3-for-4), who blasted a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall. Michigan will play an elimination-round game against Big Ten regular-season champion Illinois at 8 p.m. ET on Friday.

Michigan fell behind 1-0 early, but a Will Rogers two-run homer in the fifth gave the Wolverines new life. They totaled 10 hits in the game but left eight runners on base in the loss.

Starting pitcher Chase Allen lasted just 4 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits while striking out three. He walked two. Penn State regained the lead, 3-2, in the fifth after Allen allowed three hits, including a go-ahead single by Adam Cecere.

The Wolverines missed out on another scoring opportunity in the seventh, when Rogers (3-for-3, walk) was thrown out at home plate to end the inning. Penn State starter Jaden Henline went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out a season-high nine. He only walked one and threw 103 pitches.

Michigan bested Iowa on Wednesday. For it to make a run and reach the Big Ten tournament title game, it will have to beat Illinois on Friday night and win a rematch over Penn State on Saturday.