In a Sunday matchup he Michigan Wolverines managed to fend off a dramatic late-game push by Long Beach State, securing a 7-6 victory on the road. Winning the game series 2-1. With a combination of strong pitching, timely hitting, and defensive resilience helped Michigan maintain the upper hand despite a ninth-inning surge from the Dirtbags.
Early Innings: Pitchers Dominate
The first five innings were a showcase of dominant pitching and solid defense from both sides. Michigan managed only two hits through the first four innings, while Long Beach State struggled to get anything going offensively, failing to record a hit until the sixth. Michigan’s first breakthrough came in the top of the sixth when Kim walked and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Voit delivered a clutch RBI single through the left side, putting the Wolverines ahead 1-0. Long Beach State responded immediately in the bottom of the inning, as Ashworth doubled to bring home a run and tie the game at 1-1.
Wolverines Take Control
Michigan’s offense came to life in the seventh inning, sparked by a solo home run from Spear to left-center. Rogers followed with a double, and Kim later singled to drive him in. Voit added an RBI single, extending the lead to 4-1. The Wolverines kept their momentum going in the eighth, as Spear launched his second home run of the game to make it 5-1. Another big swing came in the ninth, when Voit homered to bring in two more runs, pushing Michigan’s lead to 7-2.
Long Beach State’s Late Rally Falls Short
Trailing by five runs heading into the bottom of the ninth, Long Beach State nearly staged a stunning comeback. Taylor homered to left field, driving in two runs to cut the deficit to 7-4. After a series of hits, including an RBI single from Ashworth and a bases-loaded walk to Champagne, the Dirtbags found themselves within one run at 7-6 with the tying and winning runs on base. However, Michigan’s bullpen held strong under pressure. Lina popped up to first base, and Charpiot followed with a pop-up to shortstop, ending the game and securing the Wolverines’ victory.
Despite a late-game scare, Michigan’s balanced attack and timely pitching allowed them to escape with the win. They’ll look to carry their momentum into their next game as they continue their early-season campaign.
Key Performers
- Michigan:
- Spear: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI
- Voit: 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
- Rogers: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R
- Carey, Bradley, Debiec (Pitching): Held LBSU to six runs despite ninth-inning trouble
- Long Beach State:
- Ashworth: 3-for-5, 2B, RBI
- Taylor: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Cadena: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
- Champagne: 0-for-3, RBI, BB
