SURPRISE, Ariz. – Michigan University faced Stanford University, with strength on both offense and defense, and won 7-6.
The Wolverines came off a ranked win from Friday against No. 5 Oregon State, winning 5-3, and carried this momentum into Saturday’s game. The game went until the very last out, as Stanford made up a six-run deficit and took a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth.
“That’s baseball. It’s never over until that last out,” Michigan head coach Tracy Smith said.
Pitching Strength
Michigan junior RHP Cade Montgomery’s skill and strength were notable on the mound, as his first at-bat ended in a strikeout.
“Cade Montgomery was phenomenal tonight,” Smith said. “That’s a really, really good offensive team, and he was able to keep him in check.
His first four innings ended the same: three up, three down. It took until Stanford designated hitter Brady Reynolds hit a single to right field. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing only 5 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 5. Reynolds struck out Stanford first baseman Rintaro Sasaki in two of his three at-bats.
Sasaki was the number one player in Japan and decided to come to America to play in college and the MLB, foregoing an immediate professional opportunity in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Senior RHP Max Debiec pitched for 1.2 innings, sophomore RHP Preston Barr pitched for 0.1, and junior RHP Gavin Devooght pitched for 0.2. Michigan pitchers only allowed Stanford to record 10 hits.
Drew Culbertson
Another key player on defense was Michigan junior shortstop Drew Culbertson.
“Drew’s heck of a guy,” Tracy Smith. “We are really confident in him.”
Culbertson recorded eight plays, all leading to outs. He took advantage of the ability to shift locations, unlike the MLB, where you are required to have two players on either side of second base. He first did this during the bottom of the first and was able to catch a line drive. He again shifted in the eighth for a groundout.
“Staff did a really good job with the scouting and positioning of the defense,” Smith said.
Hits on hits on hits
The Wolverines record 10 hits. Junior designated hitter Cade Ladehoff hit one of the most notable during the top of the third. Ladehoff hit a triple deep into left center, allowing two of his teammates to score and start a 2-0 lead.
“I think Cade came out of the womb as a hitter,” Smith said. “He’s always ready to hit.”
Michigan was able to extend the lead during the fourth inning off of sophomore right fielder Evan Hager, who hit a single past first base, allowing his teammate to score. The Wolverines were able to score again off a single during the fifth. This time from first baseman Matthew Ossenfort, who hit a single to center field.
During the seventh, Michigan put in redshirt freshman pinch hitter Carson Luna for Ossenfort. He also recorded a single and helped extend the lead to 5-2.
Early in the ninth, junior left fielder Brenden Stressler hit a deep double to left center. This allowed freshman pinch runner Josh Campbell to score.
Michigan recorded at least one hit against all but one Stanford pitcher. The Cardinal had five pitchers over the course of the game. The Wolverines were unable to get a hit off the one pitcher because he was out after two batters. One was hit, and the other was walked.
Room for improvement
Michigan already knows what needs to be fixed to play better baseball.
“We need to tighten up on defense,” Smith said. “We made a couple of throws that allowed guys to take extra bases and throw to the wrong base.”
Michigan will play No. 24 University of Arizona on Sunday.
“Second game of the season, we’ve got time to work that stuff out,” Smith said.
