Bullpen Shines as U-M Secures Series Win Over San Diego

Sunday, March 1

San Diego, Calif.

1:00 PM PT

Michigan

6-4

San Diego

7-4

Michigan

San Diego

Tyler Finkbeiner (Michigan Photography)

Bullpen Shines as U-M Secures Series Win Over San Diego

3/1/2026 8:45:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

» The Wolverines took their first series of the 2026 season, defeating San Diego in the rubber match, 9-2.
» Three Wolverines tallied three hits -- including Colby Turner, who scored three times.
» The Michigan bullpen combined for five scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with six strikeouts.
» Carson Luna doubled twice in the game and scored twice.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- In the rubber match, the University of Michigan baseball team defeated San Diego, 9-2, on Sunday afternoon (March 1) at Fowler Park and Cunningham Field to claim the series win.

Michigan (6-4) recorded one-out singles in both the first and second innings, but did not break through until the third. The inning began with a walk by Greg Pace Jr., followed by a Carson Luna double off the wall. Colby Turner then drove the next pitch out to give Michigan a 3-0 lead. Brenden Stressler added a single and later scored on a groundout by Brayden Jefferis. The Wolverines loaded the bases with walks later in the inning, but a strikeout ended the threat.

San Diego (7-4) sent the minimum six batters to the plate over the first two innings as Kurt Barr recorded three strikeouts. The Toreros answered with a run on a double in the third inning.

The fourth began much like the third, with a leadoff walk -- this time drawn by Luna. Back-to-back singles from Turner and Stressler followed, allowing Luna and Turner to score and extend Michigan's lead to 6-1. USD responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning on a single, but a strong throw from Pace cut down a runner at the plate to end the threat.

The Wolverines could not add to their lead over the next four innings, although Luna reached base for the fourth time with a single in the sixth. Barr's night was done after one batter in the fifth and Tyler Finkbeiner took over on the mound. The freshman allowed one hit in the fifth, but kept San Diego from scoring and then followed with three strikeouts in the sixth and a 1-2-3 seventh.

Finkbeiner returned to the mound for the eighth, and recorded a flyout and a walk before Max Debiec took the ball. Debiec got a groundout fielder's choice for the second out of the inning, but then walked the next two batters to load the bases. Gavin DeVooght took over, and struck out the first batter he faced to strand three and end the inning.

Turner led off the ninth with a single, and Cade Ladehoff followed with a one-out single. Matthew Ossenfort reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Elie Kligman then doubled to right-center, driving in Turner and pinch-runner Josh Campbell for Ladehoff, while Ossenfort was tagged out at home. The Wolverines got their final run of the contest as Jefferis reached on an error to right field and Kligman scored from second to put Michigan up 9-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

DeVooght struck out the first batter of the ninth before issuing a walk, but the Wolverines halted the comeback attempt with a popout and groundout to secure the series win.

Turner paced Michigan offensively, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Luna and Stressler also recorded three hits apiece, with Luna adding two doubles and two runs scored. Kligman finished with two hits, including a two-run double.

On the mound, Barr struck out six over four innings in the start, while the bullpen combined for five scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Finkbeiner earned his first career win, and DeVooght collected his fourth save of the season.

Michigan will continue its spring break trip Tuesday (March 3), traveling to California State Northridge for a 6 p.m. PT matchup at Robert J. Hiegert Field. The game will stream on ESPN+.