Priest's Walk-Off Blast Sends Michigan Past San Diego in Series Finale

Sunday, March 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

7-13

San Diego

10-8

San Diego

Michigan

Collin Priest (Michigan Photography)

Priest's Walk-Off Blast Sends Michigan Past San Diego in Series Finale

3/17/2024 4:55:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

» Collin Priest secured a Michigan victory over San Diego with a two-run, walk-off home run, earning a 3-2 U-M victory.
» Priest contributed to all three of the Wolverines' runs, notching an RBI double in addition to the home run.
» Kurt Barr earned the win on the mound in a five-inning relief appearance.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball team got some late game heroics from Collin Priest in the form of a two-run walk off homer, capping the Wolverines' three-game series against visiting San Diego with a 3-2 victory on Sunday (March 12) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Cole Caruso drew a one-out walk to bring up Preist, who deposited the first pitch he saw 400 feet to over the wall in right-center field to walk off the game.

Priest led the Wolverines' (6-13) offensive attack in the contest, batting 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI double and the home run to contribute to all three Michigan runs. Kurt Barr earned the win after pitching five full innings of relief, allowing four hits while striking out three.

The Toreros struck first with a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning, taking an early 1-0 lead. The Wolverines clawed back with a pair of doubles from Stephen Hrustich and Priest, tying the game at one apiece after four full innings.

San Diego came 90 feet shy of taking the lead in the top of the fifth, but back-to-back fielder's choices and an inning-ending flyout helped Barrr and the Wolverines turn away the threat.

With momentum creeping towards the Maize and Blue, Bradley Navarro started the home half of the fifth with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a Brock Leitgeb groundout, but that was as close as he got and teh game remained tied at one.

Michigan appeared to escape a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth with a double play, but upon review it was ruled the Torero batter beat the throw to first base and San Diego grabbed a 2-1 lead.

Barr kept the Wolverines in the game in the top of the eighth inning, striking out the side with a Torero at second base. Barr than tossed a scoreless ninth to bring the Wolverines to the plate in the bottom of the ninth.

A pitch-clock violation put Caruso on first base. AJ Garcia pinch ran for Caruso, and Priest ended the game with his two-run shot.

The Wolverines will start a four-game road trip on Tuesday (March 19), making a short trip to Ypsilanti for a matchup against Eastern Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on EMU All Access.