Jake Moberg #11 of UCLA Bruins scores past catcher Joe Donovan #0 of Michigan for the go ahead run in the 12th inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Joe Donovan #0 of Michigan reacts after hitting a deep fly out to left field against the # of UCLA Bruins in the ninth inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Jake Moberg #11 of UCLA Bruins scores past catcher Joe Donovan #0 of Michigan for the go ahead run in the 12th inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jake Moberg #11 of UCLA Bruins scores past catcher Joe Donovan #0 of Michigan for the go ahead run in the 12th inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Michael Toglia #7 of UCLA Bruins reacts after hitting a game tying home run against Michigan in the seventh inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jake Moberg #11 of UCLA Bruins scores past catcher Joe Donovan #0 of Michigan for the go ahead run in the 12th inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Noah Cardenas #25 of UCLA Bruins tags out Jordan Nwogu #42 of Michigan at home plate in the 10th inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. against the UCLA Bruins won 5-4 in 12 innings. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Starting pitcher Jack Ralston #19 of UCLA Bruins in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Starting Pitcher Jeff Criswell #17 of Michigan pitches in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jeff Criswell #17 of Michigan reacts after giving up a hit in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jeff Criswell #17 of Michigan throws to the plate against the # of UCLA Bruins in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The retired number of former # of UCLA Bruins and Brooklyn Dodges Jackie Robinson on the outfield wall during a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game between the UCLA Bruins and Michigan at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Joe Donovan #0 of Michigan rounds second base after hitting a two run home run against the # of UCLA Bruins in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Starting pitcher Jack Ralston #19 of UCLA Bruins in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Ako Thomas #4 of Michigan forces out Ryan Kreidler #3 of UCLA Bruins at second base before completing the double play in the third inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jack Ralston #19 of UCLA Bruins throws to the plate against Michigan in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jack Ralston #19 of UCLA Bruins walks off the mound at the end of the first inning after giving up a run against Michigan of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Michael Toglia #7 of UCLA Bruins high fives teammates after scoring against Michigan in the first inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jack Blomgren #2 of Michigan commits an error as Ryan Kreidler (not pictured) of UCLA Bruins is safe at first base in the third inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Michigan teammates wait for Joe Donovan #0 after he hit a two run home run against the # of UCLA Bruins in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jeremy Ydens OF #18 of UCLA Bruins moves to second base on a fielders choice against Michigan in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Michigan fans cheer after scoring against the # of UCLA Bruins in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jack Ralston #19 of UCLA Bruins after giving up a two run home run against Michigan in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Christan Bullock #5 of Michigan reacts after teammate Joe Donovan (not pictured) hit a two run home run against the # of UCLA Bruins in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Michigan teammates wait for Joe Donovan #0 after he hit a two run home run against the # of UCLA Bruins in the second inning of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jack Ralston #19 of UCLA Bruins walks off the mound at the end of the second inning after giving up a two run home run against Michigan of a NCAA Super Regional Baseball Game at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, June 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — The prayers are outnumbering the wings at this point.
UCLA closer Holden Powell was out there from innings 8 through 12. With his 77th pitch he got Jordan Dwogu on a grounder, the final stake through the robust heart of Michigan in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional.
But the 5-4 win only gets the Bruins to Game 3 and a winner-takes-Omaha final on Sunday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
“I’ve been a starting pitcher most of my career,” Powell said, gallantly. “I’ll be ready to go.”
“Holden told me he could give me five more innings tomorrow,” coach John Savage said, playfully grabbing Powell’s shoulder, not that Powell could necessarily feel it.
This is what happens to the fortunate ones who can get to the end of a college baseball season. Last week both Michigan and UCLA had to work overtime to win regional titles. On Friday night the Wolverines beat UCLA, 2-1. The run differential in this 3-game chapter is zero. Sudden death, anybody?
In the end Savage could barely remember all the hairpin turns of a game that consumed five hours and a minute.
It lasted just a little too long for Michigan’s Joe Donovan, who had homered for a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning (Michigan was the designated home team) and came up again in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied and teammates on first and third.
Donovan juiced a drive that fell maybe a couple of feet short of the same fence he had scaled earlier.
“Maybe a couple of hours earlier it goes out for a walkoff,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich.
“I guess I could have used a little more dryness,” Donovan said. “I was rounding first base and I was just hoping. It just missed the sweet spot of my bat.”
That was dramatic. The rest was just bizarre. Michigan walked 10 Bruins and made five errors and still almost won, although it couldn’t survive the final bobble, by pitcher Walker Cleveland. Kevin Kendall’s gap double scored Jake Moberg in the top of the 12th for what became the game-winner.
The Bruins trailed 3-2 when Michael Toglia launched a solo shot in the eighth, on a night when Toglia walked four times, homered and drove in the first run with a grounder.
In the UCLA ninth, Ryan Kreidler walked with two out and, audaciously, stole second. Chase Strumpf skied a long, difficult drive to the base of the wall, and Michigan left-fielder Christian Bullock drifted, got a glove on it, and muffed it. Kreidler scored to put UCLA ahead.
But Michigan, bidding to go to its first College World Series since 1984 and to get the Big 10 represented for the first time since 2013, snapped back with Jimmy Kerr’s double and Jack Blomgren’s run-scoring fly, just before Donovan nearly ended it.
But the Bruins’ 11th inning takes the cake, the doughnuts, everything in the bakery.
To summarize a story that is lengthier than a CVS receipt, Michigan made three errors, gave out two intentional walks, watched UCLA load the bases with nobody out, and escaped with no blood.
Jake Pries sent a seed to third base that Michigan’s Blake Nelson caught on the short hop. The Bruins froze as if he’d caught it cleanly, which he nearly did. “It might have been a triple play,” Savage said. Instead, Nelson tagged Garrett Mitchell at third and waited for Kriedler to dutifully come down the baseline, on the force, for another tag.
“Now it’s first-and-second with two outs,” Savage said. “I haven’t seen that before.”
Bakich ordered an intentional walk to Toglia to move Strumpf to third, and Noah Cardenas ended the inning with a grounder. In 12 innings, fifteen Bruins were stranded.
But then shortstop Kriedler, now playing third, made a magical pick on a screaming drive by Jordan Brewer, the Big 10 Player of the Year, to snuff a rally before it started in the 11th..
In the end Savage credited his pitchers for walking just one Wolverine.
“You just have to give our guys credit for having their mental game together but Michigan did, too,” he said. “It was no different for them. Guys are out there on the field for five hours, still competing.”
But Bakich needed only to go back to last week in Corvallis, when Michigan thought it had eliminated Creighton to wrap the regional title, then coughed up seven runs in the ninth and lost. “As soon as the head hits the pillow, it’s a new game,” he said, and Michigan beat Creighton the next day, 18-6, to finish its business.
Tommy Henry beat UCLA here in February and would be the starter Sunday, but Bakich said Henry has been dealing with a virus. For UCLA the starter is Nick Nastrini, who answered the call last weekend against Loyola Marymount.
The 52nd victory was a school record for the Bruins, but winning has become much more complicated since they got to 48. All pitchers on both sides are available for Game 3. All scenarios, too.
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