After solidifying himself as the Michigan baseball team’s ace, junior right-hander David Lally Jr. has been the Wolverines’ most consistent thrower. Especially amid turbulence within the bullpen, Lally’s presence has been a key factor in securing series openers.
However, coming off his worst performance of the year against Oregon, where he gave up eight hits and eight runs in four innings, Lally’s dependability would be called into question if he was unable to reel in Game 1 against Mount St. Mary’s. But with the composure he’s demonstrated all year, Lally propelled Michigan (20-14) to a 10-0 run-rule win over the Mountaineers (14-17).
Lally kicked off the day by commanding the zone. Looking to challenge hitters with balls over the plate, he forced soft contact from Mount St. Mary’s hitters. Even with an error from senior third baseman Cole Caruso on the first play of the game, Lally made it clear he trusted his fielders. Holding the Mountaineers hitless into the third inning, but without a single strikeout, Lally’s faith in the Wolverines’ position players did not waver.
As the game progressed, Lally began to rack up the strikeouts, getting one per inning in the third, fourth and fifth. As these strikeouts piled up, the Mountaineers also began to find their way on to the bases, with their first hit of the game coming during the fourth inning.
After yet another three-at-bat inning, Lally faced trouble at the top of the sixth inning. Following Mount St. Mary’s second hit of the game off of a line drive up the middle, Lally lost the zone and walked his first hitter of the game on a 3-0 count. With a groundout to shortstop, the Mountaineers moved both of their runners into scoring position on second and third base.
Following these two plays, Michigan coach Tracy Smith called a quick mound visit, not to pull Lally, but to give him time to regain his composure. This proved successful as Lally made quick work of the next two hitters, grounding out the first on a full count, and electing that same soft contact for a foul fly-out.
Lally ended his day on the mound in the seventh inning, saving his best pitching for last. After getting Mount St. Mary’s hitter to pop out to shortstop, Lally struck out the remaining hitters, on an easy 0-2 count looking and a long full count swinging.
Lally reasserted himself as the Wolverines’ ace, with his scoreless second complete game of the season.
