ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Indiana State baseball fell in a shortened travel curfew contest to No. 24 Michigan, 6-4, in six innings Wednesday night at Ray Fishers Stadium.
 
The Sycamores (24-7) scored a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings of action to cut the Michigan (23-9) lead to just two runs at 6-4, but no inning could be started after the 7:30 p.m. mark due to team travel. Both games in the midweek series were originally scheduled for 4 p.m. first pitches with start times being altered over the weekend by the Wolverines.
 
In total, ISU left nine runners on base in the contest, including three runners in scoring position in the first three innings of play.
 
Jake Means and CJ Huntley led the team with two hits apiece. Means drove in two runs while Romero Harris and Hunter Lewis added an RBI each.
 
Michigan jumped out in front with a solo home run in the bottom of the first off the bat of Jesse Franklin -- the second home run in as many days for Michigan outfielder.
 
Roby Enriquez led off the second with a hit-by-pitch before CJ Huntley doubled off the wall in left to put both runners in scoring position with no outs. UM Lefty Angelo Smith would work his way out of the jam though with a popup, strikeout and a fly ball to center to keep the Trees off the scoreboard.
 
After the Sycamores were unable to capitalize in the second, Michigan used a leadoff walk to Jack Blomgren who would move to second on a groundout and third on a wild pitch before crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly to push the UM lead to 2-0. With two outs, Jordan Nwogu doubled to center which forced ISU to go to the bullpen for Austin Cross. The right-hander issued a free pass before a ground ball to end the Wolverine threat.
 
Senior Luke Fegen was hit-by-pitch to open the third -- marking the third-straight inning that ISU put the leadoff man on base. Jake Means walked before Romero Harris grounded into a double play and a strikeout ended the scoring opportunity.
 
The Wolverines opened the game up in the third inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs on five base hits. Miles Lewis led off the frame with a single before Blake Nelson doubled to center to put runners on second and third for Jimmy Kerr who brought home one run on a single. Blomgren tacked on another run with a single to left before a passed ball allowed a run to score from third. Harrison Satler plated the fourth run of the inning on a bunt just short of the mound to increase the UMN lead to 6-0.
 
Harris put the Sycamores in the scoring column in the fifth with an RBI single up the middle to plate Max Wright. Lewis cut the deficit by another run in the next at bat with a liner through the right side to score Means.
 
Indiana State loaded the bases in the sixth for Means, and the senior delivered with a two-RBI single to center, but a ground ball ended the inning and ultimately the game as the time limit was reached.  
 
Jack Weisenburger (1-0) was credited with the victory in relief for the Wolverines, going two innings and allowing three runs. Angelo Smith tossed three innings and recorded four strikeouts in the start for UM.
 
Max Klein (0-1) dropped the decision after giving up two runs in an inning and two-thirds. Austin Cross allowed four runs in his appearance from the bullpen. Sophomore Jake Ridgway picked up a key put in the fifth as he entered with the bases loaded and two outs to record a strikeout to keep the Sycamores in the game.
 
Michigan outhit Indiana State in the game 8-7 and stranded just one runner on base in the game.
 
The Sycamores return to Bob Warn Field this weekend for a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series as Valparaiso comes to town. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.