Michigan starter Tyler Mills worked his way out of one big jam Friday afternoon. He wouldn’t be so lucky one inning later.

Indiana put together a six-run rally in the fourth inning and cruised to a 12-5, Big Ten-opening baseball win at Ray Fisher Stadium.

After Michigan (6-17, 0-1) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Hoosiers (17-8, 1-0) answered with three runs in the third.

Mills got out of a bases-loaded, no-out scenario in the third by drawing two Indiana infield liners, the second of which turned into a double play.

But Mills (1-3) wouldn’t make it through the following inning, when Indiana scored six runs with the help of a Michigan fielding error, a wild pitch and a balk. Reliever Ben Ballantine walked the first two batters he faced, forcing in a run, then allowed a two-run single to Josh Lyon.

Leadoff hitter Dustin DeMuth went 4-for-6 with two runs and two RBIs and Alex Dickerson went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs for the Hoosiers. Starting pitcher Blake Monar (3-1) allowed three runs and five hits through seven innings. He struck out 10.

Coley Crank was 3-for-4 with three runs and RBI for Michigan.

The teams continue a three-game weekend series at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ray Fisher Stadium.

MORE BASEBALL Eastern Michigan 13, Bowling Green 11: Matt Hitt lived up to his name for Eastern (17-9, 4-0 MAC), going 4-for-5 with six RBIs. Zach Leonard and Lee Longo added three hits apiece for the Eagles. Ryan Schlater went 4-for-4 for Bowling Green, which made things interesting with a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. (Details)

SOFTBALL Northern Illinois 8-1, Eastern Michigan 6-10: Four errors contributed to a loss in the opener for the Eagles (14-5, 1-1 MAC) and then hammered out 11 hits in an errorless nightcap win. McKenna Russ went 5-for-6 during the doubleheader for Eastern, including her fifth home run of the week in the second game. (Details)

WOMEN’S GOLF Rebel Intercollegiate: Michigan is tied for seventh at the 18-team event after the first of three days in Oxford, Miss. (Details)

WOMEN’S TENNIS Eastern Michigan 7, Northern Illinois 0: The Eagles cruise in their Mid-American Conference home opener at Chippewa Racquet Club. (Details)