After a 19-1 loss in Sunday’s rubber match, the Northwestern Wildcats dropped a key Big Ten series on the road in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines.

The series started Friday with a 12-4 win for Michigan over NU. The Wolverines doubled the Wildcats up in hits and forced Coach Paul Stevens to go to the bullpen on four occasions. However, the Wildcats were able to turn the tide the next day, beating the Wolverines in a tight affair, 9-8.

With a worn out pitching staff, NU still managed to squeeze out the victory, but it was a very even game. In the one-run triumph, the Wolverines outhit the Wildcats and forced more plate appearances. Matt Portland, who went 9 frames for a shutout last weekend, only lasted four innings for Northwestern; he still managed 7 strikeouts along the way.

The progress made on Saturday was quickly forgotten Sunday as the Wildcats sank in a very poor performance. A nine-run 6th inning for Michigan pretty much sealed the deal but the Wolverines added five more to the tally by game’s end.  A bright spot for the Wildcats, freshman Connor Lind had his second-straight multi-hit game.

After Sunday’s game, Stevens’ squad sits at 16-35 with a 6-15 conference record. The Wildcats will look to regroup before the Maryland Terrapins roll into Evanston on Thursday for Northwestern’s final series of the regular season.