Eighth-Inning Rally Lifts Michigan Over UAB in Mike Sansing Classic Finale

Saturday, March 11

Kennesaw, Ga.

Noon

Michigan

6-9

UAB

4-10

UAB

Michigan

Mitch Voit (Michigan Photography)

Eighth-Inning Rally Lifts Michigan Over UAB in Mike Sansing Classic Finale

3/11/2023 3:40:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

KENNESAAW, Ga. -- The University of Michigan baseball team completed an eighth-inning comeback on Saturday (March 11) to defeat UAB 3-2 on the final day of the Mike Sansing Classic at Stillwell Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 after seven innings, the Wolverines (6-9) rallied in the eighth. Tito Flores was hit by a pitch and Ted Burton worked a walk to start the inning. After a Gabe Sotres pop out, Dylan Stanton singled to right field to score Flores and advance Burton to second base. Burton moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Jack Van Remortel sacrifice fly to center field to put the Wolverines ahead 3-2.

Mitch Voit, who came on in relief in the sixth inning, tossed a 1-2-3 inning to end the game and give the Maize and Blue the victory over the Blazers (4-10) and a 2-1 record at the Mike Sansing Classic.

The Wolverines and Blazers were locked in a tight one from the start with both teams threatening but unable to push runs across in the first inning. UAB had a runner on second with one out, but Jacob Denner forced a fly out and ground out to end the inning. The Wolverines had two on with one out in the bottom of the frame after Flores reached on a fielder's choice and Burton walked. Both runners were left on base to end the inning.

Joey Velazquez hit the first triple of his career with two outs in the bottom of the second but was unable to score. Both teams went three up, three down in the third inning, with Denner striking out two Blazer batters.

U-M had its best early chance in the bottom of the fourth when Sotres walked to start the inning. Joe Longo singled to center before Voit dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. The Wolverines could not capitalize as a strikeout and lineout ended the treat.

Two more Blazer batters were struck out by Denner in the top of the fifth and the Wolverines went down in order in the bottom of the inning to keep the game scoreless.

The game opened up in the sixth inning as UAB got on the board first. After a leadoff single, a triple to center field gave the Blazers their first run and a 1-0 lead. Voit moved from third base to the mound in relief of Denner. The first batter Voit faced doubled to left field to increase UAB's lead to 2-0. Voit then retired two of the next three batters to end the inning.

U-M tried to match UAB as Burton walked to start the bottom of the sixth. Sotres singled to right and the Wolverines had two runners on with nobody out. Voit singled past the third baseman to score Burton and move Sotres to third. The Wolverines tried to execute a hit-and-run play, but went too early and Sotres was caught stealing at home plate, but U-M cut its deficit to 2-1.

Voit was dominant on the mound, pitching back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth with one strikeout in each to keep the game a one-run affair and set up the Michigan rally.

Voit (1-0) picked up the win in relief, throwing 3.2 innings and allowing one hit with one walk and four strikeouts.

Michigan's game against Kennesaw State, scheduled for Sunday (March 12) at noon, has been canceled due to inclement weather forecasted in the Kennesaw, Ga., area. The Wolverines' next will face off against Xavier on Wednesday (March 15) at 3 p.m. at Hayden Field in Cincinnati, Ohio.