The bases were loaded in the sixth inning of Saturday’s first game at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus. Ohio State designated hitter Ryan Dew came to the plate against Michigan senior pitcher Chris Fetter, who had been firmly entrenched in a pitcher’s duel with Buckeye pitcher Alex Wimmers until that point.

Dew launched Fetter’s fastball straight up behind home plate, but junior catcher Chris Berset lost it in the bright sun, and Dew took Fetter’s next pitch into the outfield for two runs.

The hit was all the momentum Wimmers needed to shutdown the Wolverines in no-hit fashion, 6-0.

It was the first time Michigan (7-11 Big Ten, 24-21 overall) has gone without a pitch 27 years, with Ohio State (13-5, 34-11) dealing the Wolverines’ National Pitcher of the Year candidate his second loss of the season.

“You never want to be no-hit,” Berset said. “It’s discouraging. But what’s most disappointing about it is Chris Fetter not being able to get the win he deserves.”

Through five and a half innings of scoreless work, Wimmers and Fetter ­— two of the Big Ten’s best pitchers — accounted for 14 strikeouts. But after Dew’s hit, Fetter fell apart as he allowed four runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

Fetter’s performance in the first game of the series often serves as the measuring stick for the rest of the Wolverines’ weekend. And it’s no secret that the team counts on Fetter for a win.

“It’s huge to go 1-0 on a team,” said sophomore centerfielder Ryan LaMarre. “If you get that first one under your belt, you’re one win away from winning the series. We know (Fetter) always gives us a chance, and that’s important to our success.”

After Fetter was dealt a loss in Saturday’s first game, the Wolverines were hard-pressed to bounce back in the nightcap.

Michigan came out firing with two quick runs, but sophomore pitcher Tyler Burgoon fell victim to a six-run hitting spree that shortened his campaign to just 1.2 innings.

Despite a comeback attempt in the game’s middle innings, the Wolverines lack of consistent pitching doomed them to a 9-6 loss.

“We were a few bounces from being in the first and second games,” LaMarre said. “(Sunday’s game) was our surprise game. We all knew it, so we went out as hard as we could and played with desperation.”

Apparently, desperation was what Michigan needed in the final game of the series as it coupled a consistent effort on the mound from junior Eric Katzman, who allowed just four hits and one earned run, with solid play at the plate as four Wolverines got multiple hits leading to a 9-2 win.

By salvaging a win in Sunday’s game, the Wolverines kept within a half-game of Purdue, which holds the sixth spot in the Big Ten standings after winning two games against Indiana this weekend.

Only the top six teams make the conference tournament, so if Michigan hopes to compete for the Big Ten Championship, they’ll have to be one step ahead of the Boilermakers in the two remaining weekends of the conference season.

“We’ve had three straight Big Ten championships,” LaMarre said. “No one is feeling sorry for us where we are.”

But Michigan coach Rich Maloney knows the Wolverines’ postseason position depends on what happens in the next two weeks and whether Michigan can pull together the complete, con­sistent effort it has strived for all season.

“We know we can beat anybody, win any day, but because of our inconsistency, we haven’t been able to.” Maloney said. “The Tournament, for us, is far out there. The biggest thing for us is to be a better team, get in that six spot, and perhaps play our best baseball at that time.”