Michigan
UCLA
Michigan's Late-Inning Comeback Falls Short Against No. 17 UCLA
3/1/2023 11:59:00 PM | Baseball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Michigan baseball team had its comeback fall short against No. 17-ranked UCLA in a 9-4 loss on Wednesday night (March 1) at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
After a two-out single by Ted Burton in the first went for naught in the scoring department, UCLA jumped out to a 2-0 lead on back-to-back run-scoring hits after starting pitcher Jacob Denner (0-2) issued a pair of walks.
A scoreless second inning for both squads preceded the Bruins (6-2) push another run across to take a 3-0 lead. Denner shook off the run and struck out three out of the next four batters to get out of the inning with no further damage.
The Wolverines (4-4) went scoreless for a third straight frame, and Denner was pulled in favor of Jake Keaser to begin the fourth. Denner's final line was three runs on three hits with five strikeouts against three walks. Keaser walked the first two batters before a routine double play ball hit off the second base umpire, allowing the batter to reach safely and load the bases. The next three Bruins batters drove in runs and the home team added an unearned run to take a 7-0 lead through four innings.
U-M went three up, three down to start the fifth before Ahmad Harajli came into pitch in the bottom half of the inning. After an opening walk, Harajli focused up and struck out two in a row. The final batter of the inning was retired on a groundout stranding the runner at first.
In the sixth, the Wolverines had their best chance of the evening. Tito Flores drew a one-out walk and Gabe Sotres was hit by a pitch after a second out. However, both runners were left stranded and UCLA maintained its seven-run lead.
The Bruins extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Harajli walked the bases loaded with two of those walks coming around to score on a single up the middle. The Maize and Blue could not touch the Bruins pitching once again in the seventh, going down 1-2-3 before the Bruins did the same with Harajli striking out another Bruin.
The bats woke up in the top of the eighth which started with pinch-hitter Joe Longo collecting U-M's second hit of the night, a single to left field. Camden Gasser came in to run for Longo and advanced to put a runner past second for the first time of the night. Burton drew a two-out walk, and Casey Buckley hit an infield single that scored Gasser and ruined the shutout for the Bruins. Marti continued the hot inning for the Wolverines, hitting a three-run home run to left-center field to cut the Bruins lead to 9-4.
UCLA's first two batters reached base in the bottom of the inning. Once again, Harajli settled in and got three straight outs -- including two strikeouts -- ending the threat. Harajli finished his night after four innings, allowing just two runs and two hits while striking out seven. Michigan was unable to build on its eighth-inning momentum and UCLA went on to win the game.
The Wolverines next head to Houston to take part in the Shriners College Classic where they will play three games against ranked opponents at Minute Maid Park, starting with No. 10 TCU on Friday (March 3) at 3 p.m. CST.
