The Wolverines tagged freshman right-hander Wylan Moss for two runs in the top of the first, but the Bruins took the lead with three in the bottom half of the inning.

They added three more in the second.

Then nine in the third.

And after four, they led by 15.

UCLA baseball (10-3) mercy ruled Michigan (6-5) by a score of 22-5 after seven innings at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday. Ahead of Friday’s Big Ten opener, the Bruins have gone 3-0 against conference opponents through nonconference play, outscoring their opponents by a total of 42-15.

UCLA scored its most runs in a single game since May 2022, when it posted 25 in an extra-innings contest against Oregon State.

“It was a clinic offensively,” said coach John Savage. “We used the middle of the field, we walked, we got hit by pitch, we really strung some good at-bats together. … It was pretty well done.”

Every Bruin in the starting lineup reached base at least twice, but it was redshirt sophomore center fielder Payton Brennan and sophomore Blake Balsz who seemed to do the heavy lifting – the former going 4-for-5, scoring three runs and driving in one, while the latter finished 2-for-2 with two walks and a career-high six RBIs, largely fueled by a fifth-inning three-run longball.

“We’ve been working a lot in the cage,” Brennan said. “Just really bringing that into the game and not trying to do too much.”

Balsz, who’s served as the Bruins’ backup catcher each of the past two seasons, made just his second collegiate start as the designated hitter.

Savage has employed three other players in the designated hitter spot this season – freshman outfielder Logan de Groot, sophomore infielder Cameron Kim and junior outfielder Jarrod Hocking – however, none had left the ballpark, much less drive in as many as Balsz did in a single game.

“He’s played really well,” Savage said. “Offensively, he’s really turned the corner to become a very tough out.”

Michigan wound up using seven pitchers across just six innings – with three appearing in the third inning alone – as each of the first six allowed at least two earned runs before right-hander Brandon Newland finally held UCLA at bay in the sixth.

The Wolverines conceded 16 hits – seven extra bases – issued nine walks, plunked four batters and allowed 20 earned runs while striking out just four and tossing 179 pitches. The Bruins’ staff threw just 124 despite pitching one more inning.

“We like to walk a lot,” Balsz said. “We like to get hit by pitches. For us, that’s the best way to get on base and score runs. We want to be known as a team that likes to get hit by pitches.”

Moss was relieved by Luke Rodriguez in the third. The sophomore right-hander allowed a solo shot to designated hitter Will Rogers – ending Rodriguez’s 13.1 scoreless-inning streak – but didn’t allow any other baserunner across his three frames of work.

Right-handers graduate student August Souza and redshirt junior Josh Alger finished the blowout contest for the Bruins, with Souza allowing the Wolverines’ final two runs.

Savage said UCLA may have just got to Michigan – who is yet to play a game at home – at the right time. The Wolverines opened their season in Puerto Rico and traveled to Arlington, Texas, before coming to Southern California.

The Bruins are set to make a long trek of their own – heading to College Park, Maryland, for their Big Ten opener Friday.

“It’s going to be fun,” Brennan said. “We’ve never been to Maryland, and it’ll be the first time in the Big Ten. I don’t really know what to expect, but we’re ready.”