Big Ten - Penn State Ahead Again

By Courtney Ratkowiak - May 25, 2007

Top 5th - Ten minutes after the Wolverines tied the game, the Nittany Lions struck again. Penn State's Matt Cavagnaro singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Michigan starting pitcher Mike Wilson intentionally walked Joe Blackburn, a play that, with two outs, seemed questionable at the time - they didn't need a double play to get out of the inning, which might have seemed like a good excuse had there been runners on first and second with just one out - but, with runners on first and second, Cory Wine hit a long ball to right field that bounced off the wall, and as Michigan right fielder Doug Pickens scrambled after the ball, both Cavagnaro and Blackburn scored to make it 4-2, Penn State.

The intentional walk might have effectively sealed the Wolverines' fate in this tournament, but it's still too soon to tell. Michigan still has four innings to make up for two runs, but they've been playing from behind all tournament and, last game, managed too little too late.