LOS ANGELES – Kevin Kendall’s RBI-double in the top of the 12th inning snapped a 4-4 tie, pushing the No. 1-seed UCLA baseball team past Michigan, 5-4, in Game 2 of the NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional on Saturday night.
The Bruins (52-10) overcame a 3-1 deficit at Jackie Robinson Stadium, scoring one run in the sixth inning and another in the eighth, before the ninth inning provided plenty of drama. With Saturday’s victory, UCLA forced a winner-take-all Game 3 that will be played Sunday evening, with the winning team advancing to next week’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
UCLA closer Holden Powell (4-3) picked up the victory, limiting the Wolverines to one run and two hits over the final five innings (Powell’s collegiate career high in innings pitched). Holden entered the game to start the eighth inning, allowed one run in the bottom of the ninth, and held Michigan (45-20) scoreless through three extra innings.
Michigan’s Walker Cleveland (4-3) was tagged with the loss. He surrendered one run and one hit and walked two batters in two frames.
In the top of the 12th inning, pinch-hitter Jake Moberg reached base on a fielding error by Cleveland. After UCLA’s Jeremy Ydens struck out, Kendall lined a double to the gap in right-center field, allowing Moberg to score the go-ahead run. The inning ended with a spectacular diving catch in center field by Michigan’s Jesse Franklin, who doubled up Garrett Mitchell at first base.
Michigan threatened in the bottom of the 12th, as Jake Blomgren reached second base on a walk and ensuing sacrifice bunt. Powell recorded a strikeout before inducing a groundout to shortstop by Jordan Nwogu to secure the victory for UCLA.
“It was a classic, really, in every way,” UCLA head coach John Savage said. “Whatever you wanted in that game was there. Can’t say enough about our guys and what they’ve been through this season and their backs against the wall. Being a visitor in that game, you’re talking about being one pitch from your season being over with. You’ve got to give Michigan a lot of credit. The First two games of the series have been about as good as you’ll want to see in a Super Regional and it’ll be determined tomorrow.”
UCLA starting pitcher Jack Ralston allowed one run in the first inning and two in the second, but finished his outing having limited Michigan to three runs and seven hits through six innings.
Trailing 3-2 in the top of the eighth inning, UCLA’s Michael Toglia tied the game with a solo home run to left field. Toglia finished the game having gone 1-for-2 with two runs, two RBI and four walks.
The Bruins took a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth, taking advantage of a dropped pop fly in deep left field by outfielder Christian Bullock with two outs. Michigan responded in the bottom of the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly that tied the contest, 4-4, sending the game toward extra innings.
Michigan kept UCLA from scoring in the bottom of the 11th after the Bruins had loaded the bases with no outs. Jake Pries lined a hard-hit ball to third baseman Blake Nelson, who cleanly fielded the one-hopper directly next to the third base bag, tagged out the third-base runner (Garrett Mitchell) before tagging out UCLA’s second-base runner (Ryan Kriedler). On the next at-bat, Cleveland induced an inning-ending groundout from Noah Cardenas to end the Bruins’ threat.
Michigan led by a 3-1 margin through the middle innings. The Wolverines secured their two-run cushion with a two-run homer to left field by Joe Donovan, breaking a 1-1 tie.
UCLA reduced its deficit to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Jack Stronach lined a one-out single into left field that sent home Toglia from third base. Toglia had drawn a leadoff walk, advanced to second base on a balk and moved up to third base on a passed ball.
Each team scored one run in the first inning.
Michigan’s Jeff Criswell allowed two runs (one earned) and seven hits in 5.1 innings as the Wolverines’ starting pitcher.
UCLA and Michigan will face each other on Sunday night in the winner-take-all Game 3. The Bruins’ game on Sunday will begin at 6 p.m. (PT) and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
Game Notes: Saturday night’s game marked the Bruins’ longest game of the season, at five hours and one minute (the Bruins’ longest game of the year, prior to Sunday, had been 4:04) … UCLA improved to 2-1 this season in extra-inning games … the Bruins established a new single-season program record for victories (52), eclipsing the 51 wins from the 2010 season … UCLA previously forced a Game 3 in the current Super Regional format in 2010 – the Bruins lost Game 1 to Cal State Fullerton (at UCLA) before winning Games 2 and 3 to advance to the College World Series … the winner of Sunday night’s Game 3 will advance to the eight-team College World Series in Omaha, Neb … UCLA last advanced to the College World Series in 2013 (winning that season’s national title) … Michigan last advanced to the College World Series in 1984.
