LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The University of Michigan baseball team headed off a ninth-inning rally by No. 1-ranked UCLA, defeated the Bruins, 3-2, Friday night (June 7) and claimed a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three Super Regional series at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore right-hander Jeff Criswell slammed the door on the Bruins after he induced a pop out and strikeout to strand two UCLA baserunners and gave Michigan (45-19) a pivotal victory.
Michigan became the first team to defeat UCLA’s Ryan Garcia (10-1) this season and became the first team to defeat the Bruins twice this year. Michigan defeated then-No. 2 UCLA, 7-5, on March 8 during U-M’s annual California swing. With the loss, UCLA fell to 51-10 on the season.
Michigan’s familiarity with Jackie Robinson Stadium and its the Wolverines’ alumni base set the tone for Friday’s victory. Unfazed by a Bruins team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the season and with a large cheering section, Michigan claimed leads of 2-0 and 3-0 before holding on for the win.
Friday foretold a pitchers’ duel with a pair of MLB Draft second-round selections toeing the rubber in Michigan junior Karl Kauffmann(10-6) and Garcia.
Michigan struck first in the third inning. Sophomore shortstop Jack Blomgren singled sharply to lead off the frame, and two outs later, sophomore designated hitter Jordan Nwogu laced a double over the third-base bag. Sophomore center fielder Jesse Franklin then stayed back on a high 0-2 changeup and roped a two-run single to right field for a 2-0 U-M lead.
The seventh and eighth innings were key for both teams. In the bottom of the seventh, a one-out error put Michael Toglia on first base with one out. As a full-count pitch was thrown to DH Jake Pries, Toglia took off for second. Kauffmann got the strikeout and sophomore catcher Joe Donovan fired a rocket to second base. Senior Ako Thomas deked Tolgia into thinking it was a walk but slapped a quick tag on him to complete an inning-ending double play.
Thomas then delivered a one-out double to the gap in right field in the eighth inning and moved to third on a passed ball. Nwogu fought off a two-strike pitch and sent a long sacrifice fly down the right-field line to score Thomas for a 3-0 Michigan lead.
UCLA threatened in the ninth due when a close pitch on a 3-2 count was called a ball to put the leadoff hitter on first. The next batter bounded what appeared to be a double-play ball towards second base, but Kauffmann reached up and tipped the ball which forced Thomas to dive in order to keep the ball from rolling into the outfield. Following a flyout to center field, Chase Strumpf dribbled an infield single between third and short to load the bases. Toglia laced the first pitch he saw into right to score two runs and put runners on the corners with one out. Michigan went to Criswell, Saturday’s announced starting pitcher. The big righty induced an easy popup to Blomgren and then struck out Jack Stronach with a fastball on the outside edge to end the game. Criswell earned the save in his first relief outing of the year.
Kauffmann dazzled all night as he took a one-hitter into the ninth inning. With the two infield singles and liner to the outfield he ended the game allowing two runs on four hits against eight strikeouts.The Wolverines and Bruins will play Game 2 of their best-of-three Super Regional series on Saturday (June 8) from Jackie Robinson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Highlights: Michigan Defeats UCLA 3-2 to start Super Regional. #GoBlue #RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/xlGQ7ORTmy
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) June 8, 2019
