OMAHA, Neb. — Neither Brayden Jefferis nor Tyler Inge started the season in the outfield for the Michigan baseball team. Both freshmen committed to the Wolverines as infielders, but when the diamond is commanded by stars like graduate shortstop Benny Casillas and junior second baseman Mitch Voit, there’s not much room for newbies. So Inge and Jefferis began spending time in the left and right field respectively, and adapted to their positions in the corners skillfully.
But defending the outfield at Ray Fisher Stadium is vastly different from the outfield at Charles Schwab, the home of the Big Ten Tournament. With dozens of extra feet to defend in the outfield and a large expanse of foul territory, all three starting outfielders had a tall task in front of them if they wanted to keep UCLA’s bats at bay.
“We’ve said all along that’s probably the future infield for Michigan,” Wolverines coach Tracy Smith said. “… Both of them, to their credit, that you can put them out there in the outfield. And I thought they played really good for not playing out there.”
Almost immediately, Jefferies and Inge were put to the test. In the second inning, Bruins third baseman Roman Martin drilled a ball to Jefferis in the right field corner for a double. Two batters later, UCLA center fielder Payton Brennan followed suit with a ground ball up the middle. This time it was junior center fielder Greg Pace Jr. who got tripped up fielding, and overshot his target when attempting to gun down the runner at home. Pace’s error gave the Bruins’ baserunners each an extra 90 feet and UCLA its first run of the competition.
As another single into center field from the Bruins plated two more, Michigan found itself down 3-0 and its outfielders were taking the brunt of the attack.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines’ infield looked seemingly impenetrable through seven innings. Michigan’s four infielders have started almost every competition and their consistency has been essential to anchor the Wolverines’ defense as the rest of their fielding lineup has shifted dramatically throughout the season.
In the third inning, after letting up three runs, freshman right-hander Tate Carey secured a bunt up the middle and whipped it to senior third baseman Cole Caruso, who snagged it to secure the first out of the inning. In the fifth inning, Casillas followed up with a backhanded jumping assist of his own and it was clear that Michigan’s infield wasn’t going to give UCLA any room to play small ball. Instead, the Wolverines forced the Bruins to lift the ball to their outfield.
“One thing we really highlight on this team, besides the hitting part, is the defensive part and we give it our all,” Pace said. “Laying our bodies out and giving it our all every chance we get. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of that kind of play.”
Despite its third inning blunders, Michigan’s outfield came up in big moments as the game wore on. Inge controlled the left side of the ballpark expertly, tracking down the warning track twice to steal would-be big hits from the Bruins. Flanked by two freshmen, Pace’s experience was more evident than ever before both in the outfield and at the plate.
In the sixth inning, Pace targeted the very part of the field he defends with a homer directly over the center field wall. After putting Michigan ahead with his 440-foot blast, Pace made sure that any ball hit in his direction was as good as out. In the eighth inning, the Bruins slapped a hit to shallow center field that seemed good for a base hit. But charging in aggressively, Pace dove just in time to come up with the ball and a big out for the Wolverines.
“We made a decision, intentionally, to put some of the guys that are going to be back in this position in the future in there to give them some experience,” Smith said. “And I was really, really proud of the way they played.”
Michigan may have fallen short of defeating the Bruins on Thursday, but its defenders still put on a show. Of the seven fielders that started for the Wolverines against UCLA, just three will return in the upcoming season — the three that patrolled the outfield. And if it’s outfield is any indication, the future of Michigan’s defense is bright.
