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Bradley
03/19/2023 | To be determined
B1G+
March 19 (Sunday) / TBA
Bradley
ANN ARBOR, Michigan — A four-run sixth inning and a strong start from Connor O’Halloran propelled the University of Michigan baseball team to a win over Bradley Friday afternoon (March 17) at 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 thanks to a shot from Tito Flores, a sacrificial bunt from Ted Burton and scored when Joe Longo scored from the right side, but the scoring ended there and the Wolverines held a lead of 1-0 after one.
The lead didn’t last long as Bradley tied the game after a walk, stolen base and error on a third hit allowed the runner to score.
Bradley (5-8) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth, but O’Halloran came out of trouble with three straight outs and brought his out total to eight.
Michigan’s offense turned on its sticks in the fourth inning to edge out the Braves. Jonathan Kim doubled to left field to advance Jack Van Remortel, who reached a defenseman’s pick, to third down. Jefferis notched his third hit of the game and added two RBIs as Kim and Van Remortel came in to score. A batter later, Greg Pace Jr. reached on an error and then scored with Jefferis when Burton chose right field. After six innings, UM led 5-1.
Tracy Smith went to her bullpen in the top of the seventh, with Noah Rennard in place of O’Halloran. Rennard limited the Braves to just two hits and one earned run in 1.2 innings of work. He also had three strikeouts, including one to finish the seventh to block a Bradley runner.
The Wolverines added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh when Gabe Sotres homered 330 feet into left field. Kim added his fourth and final hit of the contest, a right RBI single, which scored Van Remortel, who reached on a step and moved to second on wild pitch.
In the eighth, Rennard and Eamon Horwedel combined for a 1-2-3 set. 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 a single and a walk, and Mitch Voit was called up to replace Horwedel. Bradley scored a pair of runs charged to Horwedel, but Voit scored a strikeout and forced two strikeouts to clinch the series-opening victory for the Wolverines.
O’Halloran (3-1) picked up the win after going six innings allowing three hits and the unearned first-inning run. He stoked 12 Braves while walking four. Jefferis, Burton and Longo had two runs apiece, while Kim went 4-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored.
The Wolverines will wrap up their three-game series against Bradley with a doubleheader Sunday, March 19 at Ray Fisher Stadium. The first pitch of the first game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
