Michigan
3-0
Arizona
0-3
Wolverines Defeat No. 24 Arizona to Clinch Surprise College Baseball Series
2/15/2026 10:01:00 PM | Baseball
» Michigan went 3-0 to win the Surprise College Baseball Series, clinching the title with a victory over No. 24 Arizona.
» Kurt Barr struck out eight over seven innings, allowing just one run.
» Seven Wolverines recorded hits, with three posting multi-hit performances.
» Matthew Ossenfort went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
» Evan Haeger was named Most Outstanding Player after going 5-for-12 with one run and five RBIs over the three-game weekend.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The University of Michigan baseball team capped a 3-0 weekend by defeating No. 24 Arizona, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 15) at Surprise Stadium to win the Surprise College Baseball Series.
Michigan (3-0) was powered by a dominant outing from Kurt Barr, who allowed one run on six hits over seven innings while striking out eight. Shane Brinham earned his first collegiate save with two scoreless innings. Michigan tallied 10 hits, with seven different players recording at least one and three finishing with multiple hits. Matthew Ossenfort led the way with two hits and two runs scored.
Arizona (0-3) threatened in the first inning after a two-out error and single, but Barr recorded his second strikeout of the frame to end the threat. Michigan broke through in the bottom half when Brayden Jefferis walked, stole second and advanced to third on a single from Brenden Stressler. Colby Turner followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
Barr settled in, allowing just one baserunner over the next two innings and striking out three Wildcats. Arizona tied the game in the fourth on a double and two-out single, but Barr induced a 6-4-3 double play to limit further damage.
Michigan responded in the bottom of the fourth. Ossenfort and Elie Kligman delivered back-to-back singles, and Greg Pace Jr. drove in Ossenfort with a single to restore the lead at 2-1.
The Wolverines added insurance in the sixth using small ball. Ossenfort singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kligman. Evan Haeger and Pace drew consecutive walks to load the bases before Drew Culbertson laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Ossenfort. Jefferis followed with a bunt single to plate another run and extend the lead to 4-1.
Brinham took over in the eighth and allowed just one baserunner before retiring the final five hitters, including a strikeout in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the win.
Michigan concludes its trip to Arizona on Monday (Feb. 16) against No. 12-ranked Oregon State at noon MT on FloCollege.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Barr, Kurt (1-0)
L: McKinney, Collin (0-1)
S: Brinham, Shane (1)
Batting:
2B: Lira, Tony 1
RBI: Sylvester, Beau 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lira, Tony 1
SB: Lira, Tony 1 ; Meurant, Mathis 1
Batting:
RBI: Turner, Colby 1 ; Jefferis, Brayden 1 ; Pace Jr., Greg 1 ; Culbertson, Drew 1
SH: Kligman, Elie 1 ; Culbertson, Drew 1
SF: Turner, Colby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Haeger, Evan 1 ; Jefferis, Brayden 1 ; Ossenfort, Matthew 2
SB: Jefferis, Brayden 1
