Aaron

That one a bit more off plate on full count and we get 1 out walk. Richardson and Barr up. Time to go for tying HR with these two.

Wow up just gave strike 3 on a really close pitch to leadoff eighth on full count. I have seen that one go both ways and went against IU.

Bierman gets through 7. May not win us a game today, but certainly gave us a far better chance Tuesday in a must win saving pen. Assuming Bothwell starts, we don't need perfection from him as Illinois cannot pitch at all and will be better than whoever their fourth starter is. Illinois can hit very well but does not have even one good pitcher so hopefully we can win a high scoring game like yesterday. 3-1 to Bottom 8. Michigan goes to their closer in eighth.

Houston just barely misses singling one through the middle and inning ends:(. Really tried that inning and made the UM reliever work. Its probably all or nothing next inning with top of line up up. 3-1 Michigan at stretch.

Infield single by Hopkins makes it 1st and 3rd 2 outs. Terrific at bat.

Interesting Michigan brings in a guy with a very high ERA. Not one of their top relivers. Also a righty. Time to take advantage.

Finally chased Denner after 6 and 1/3 which is highes of year by 2/3 of an inning. Tying run at plate and UM bullpen in. Let's see if we can do what we did to them yesterday which will decide game.

Colopy doubles with one out. He is the one guy seeing Denner today who is at 105 pitches. Tying run at plate.

Denner back out there and we fly out on first pitch. This is getting rediculous now. Way to much impatience and its going to cost us game.

Bierman very good again. Can easily get another inning out of him. So even if we lose only going to need bullpen for one inning going into Tuesday (and I'd probably use someone like Macciochi if score stays same) which will be an absolute must win.

Absolutely absurd from our best hitters. 6 pitch innning for Denner and he is at season high innings now. That's two innings now where our best hitters have gotten impatient and its going to probably cost us game. Denner is on today and not much we can do, but the fourth and sixth innings by the heart of our lineup has been really bad. Rather than making him work, getting outs on very early pitchers pitches in count.

Denner back out there in uncharted territory. Lets see what happens.

Bierman cruises and at only 70 pitches through 5. Can hopefully get 7 from him with Illinois Tuesday.

Nothing more, but Denner basically at 90 pitches through 5 (which is his season high) so not going to be able to go much longer if at all. We were patient again and forced ell over 20 pitches which was absolutely what the doctor ordered if we are to have a chance. 3-1 Michigan to bottom 5.

HR Colopy on a line drive HR to RF below the scoreboard (the side with the low wall) and its 3-1.

Bierman gets out of it. 3-0 Michigan though after 4. Bierman has been alright considering the style we are facing, but got to get to the pitching like we did in the Iowa games or yesterday against Michigan or you have no chance.

Michigan scores again doing the little things with a double, groundball and wild pitch and its 3-0. This is like Gabe Bierman's Iowa start. Not horrible but with this team's style will give up some and unlike Iowa not getting to the opposing pitcher which is difference.

Forgot the plan there. Only forced 10 pitches and now at 66 and cruising. There is nothing worse for us than a LH guy who relies on off speed stuff. First three innings we worked him beautifully to try to tire him out. That inning got impatient. Need him gone after 5th or 6th to really have chance and no he probably goes at least 6:(. 2-0 to bottom 4.

Bierman back in command and less than 50 pitches with far better stamina. 2-0 Michigan to 4th.

Still nothing, but Denner at 56 pitches through 3 so hopefully we chase him after 5 and get to bullpen. Kind of the same strategy soccer used Friday to sit back and play defense and score on one of our few chances and it worked. Here looks like we are playing long game making Denner throw a ton of pitches to tire self out and hope to get to pen. See if it works. 2-0 Michigan to bottom 3.

Inning over fortunately. I see Michigan like Iowa, you have to beat them by outscoring them like we did yesterday which is much harder on road. Nothing you could do there. Just a couple hard hit singles up middle and then the double off the wall. Illinois and Nebraska are same way but come with caveat. What makes Iowa and Michigan so dangerous is they have two excellent starters. Nebraska has one and Illinois has none. Will be much easier to outscore those teams at home where our bats are batter and starting pitching no where near as good.

There's out number 2 with a groundout.

Now a double makes it 2-0 off their 'green monster'. This could be a long day. Michigan is basically Iowa with a lot of patience and well placed contact. Like against Iowa, struggling with that and bats may not be as strong.

Well there's the one on a sac fly. Got to put fire out now or it will be long day.

We're in trouble. Patient Michigan gets two singles and its 1st and 3rd no outs. Need to limit this to one or we are screwed.