Michigan
Bradley
Big Sixth Inning Propels Wolverines to Victory Over Bradley
3/17/2023 6:21:00 PM | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A four-run sixth inning and a strong start from Connor O'Halloran pushed the University of Michigan baseball team to a win over Bradley on Friday afternoon (March 17) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.
Michigan (8-9) took the lead in the first inning, which started with a Cody Jefferis single on the first pitch of the game. Jefferis moved around the bases courtesy of a Tito Flores hit by pitch, a Ted Burton sacrifice bunt and scored when Joe Longo singled through the right side, but the scoring ended there and the Wolverines held a 1-0 lead after one.
The lead did not last for long as Bradley tied the game after a walk, a stolen base and an error on a third strike allowed the runner to score.
Bradley (5-8) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth, but O'Halloran got out of the jam with three consecutive strikeouts and bring his strikeout total up to eight.
The Michigan offense got its bats going in the fourth inning to pull ahead of the Braves. Jonathan Kim doubled to left field to advance Jack Van Remortel, who reached on a fielder's choice, to third. Jefferis picked up his third hit of the game and added two RBIs as both Kim and Van Remortel came around to score. One batter later, Greg Pace Jr. reached on an error and later scored along with Jefferis when Burton singled to right field. After six innings, U-M led 5-1.
Tracy Smith went to his bullpen in the top of the seventh, with Noah Rennard coming on for O'Halloran. Rennard held the Braves to just two hits and one earned run over 1.2 innings of work. He also tallied three strikeouts, including one to end the seventh to strand a Bradley runner.
The Wolverines added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh when Gabe Sotres hit a 330-foot home run to left field. Kim added his fourth and final hit of the contest, an RBI single to right, which scored Van Remortel, who reached on a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch.
In the eighth, Rennard and Eamon Horwedel combined for a 1-2-3 inning. Pace scored in the bottom of the eighth on a Longo single to extend Michigan's lead to 8-2.
Bradley opened the ninth with single and a walk, and Mitch Voit was summoned to replaced Horwedel. Bradley scored a pair of runs charged to Horwedel, but Voit tallied a strikeout and forced two groundouts to clinch the series-opening win for the Wolverines.
O'Halloran (3-1) earned the win after going six innings allowing three hits and the unearned first-inning run. He fanned 12 Braves while issuing four walks. Jefferis, Burton and Longo drove in two runs each, while kim went 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
The Wolverines will end their three-game series against Bradley with a Sunday (March 19) doubleheader at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch for game one is slated for 1 p.m.
