NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn had three hits and two RBIs, including a go-ahead single in the 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates threw out the potential tying run at the plate to hold off the New York Mets 4-3 on Sunday for their first victory this season.
Henry Davis added a critical RBI single off New York reliever Richard Lovelady (1-1) with two outs in the 10th, and the Pirates got another home run from Brandon Lowe as they salvaged the series finale to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2015.
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New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn hits an RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders Oneil Cruz, left, Jake Mangum, center, and Billy Cook celebrate after a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
As New York Mets' Juan Soto, left, walks off the field, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher José Urquidy (65), right, and catcher Henry Davis celebrate after a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn (29) reacts after hitting an RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
With the Mets trailing 4-2 and two runners aboard in the bottom of the 10th, Juan Soto drove an RBI double to deep left-center. Francisco Lindor tried to score the tying run from first base but was cut down on a relay from center fielder Oneil Cruz to shortstop Jared Triolo to Davis at the plate for the first out of the inning.
Soto advanced to third on Bo Bichette's groundout before Jorge Polanco flied out to the right-field fence to end it.
Dennis Santana (1-0) pitched a perfect inning for the win, and José Urquidy got three outs in his Pirates debut for his second major league save.
O’Hearn had three singles, including a run-scoring hit in the first. Lowe reached base four times and finished 5 for 12 with three homers and four RBIs during his first weekend with Pittsburgh.
Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski allowed two runs with a career-high eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Marcus Semien had a sacrifice fly in the second and Soto hit an RBI single in the fifth for the Mets, who struck out 16 times.
New York rookie Nolan McLean gave up two runs and struck out eight in five innings.
RHP Clay Holmes (12-8, 3.53 ERA) makes his season debut Monday for the Mets, who open their first road trip against RHP Kyle Leahy (4-2, 3.07) and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-4, 2.71 ERA) opposes RHP Chase Burns (0-3, 4.57) in Cincinnati on Monday night.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn hits an RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders Oneil Cruz, left, Jake Mangum, center, and Billy Cook celebrate after a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
As New York Mets' Juan Soto, left, walks off the field, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher José Urquidy (65), right, and catcher Henry Davis celebrate after a baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O'Hearn (29) reacts after hitting an RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
CHICAGO (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg scored 27 points, Elliot Cadeau had 10 assists and Michigan rolled into the Final Four, overwhelming Tennessee for a 95-62 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Morez Johnson Jr. added 12 points for top-seeded Michigan, which posted its 11th victory this season by at least 30 points. Aday Mara had 11 points and blocked two shots in the Midwest Region final.
Making the most of its size and athleticism on both sides of the court, Michigan (35-3) advanced to its first Final Four since 2018 and ninth overall. The Wolverines will face Arizona in Saturday's national semifinals.
“We always wanted to play against them, that team,” Lendeborg said. “They're a really, really good team, so it's going to be a super fun matchup.”
Under second-year coach Dusty May — who took Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023 — the Wolverines became the first school to win at least four games in an NCAA tourney by double digits while scoring at least 90 points in each.
Lendeborg, who was named the region’s Most Outstanding Player, was 10 for 19 from the field. He became the first Michigan player to score at least 23 points in three consecutive NCAA Tournament games since Juwan Howard did it in four straight in 1994.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting for Tennessee (25-12), which lost in the Elite Eight for the third straight year under Rick Barnes. The 71-year-old coach reached his only Final Four in 2003 with Texas.
Felix Okpara finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Volunteers, who shot just 32% (24 of 76) from the field. Each team had 42 rebounds — a major problem for a Tennessee team that usually enjoys an advantage on the glass.
Michigan grabbed control with a 21-0 run in the first half, going from a 16-14 deficit with 11:22 left to a 35-16 lead with 6:10 remaining.
“That's when our defense started clicking,” Lendeborg said. “We started running out on the break and started doing what we do best, and once that happened, man, I think the game was pretty much called right there.”
Once again, Lendeborg was the conductor of an offensive show for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-9 forward switched hands on a slick reverse layup, then made a no-look pass to Roddy Gayle Jr. for a 3-pointer on a fast break. Then he set up a 3 by Cadeau with 7:52 to go.
After Tennessee made a push to get back in the game, Lendeborg scored on a fast break and found Trey McKenney for a 3 at the end of a 7-0 run that made it 48-26 at halftime.
It was more of the same in the second half. Mara, a 7-foot-3 center, stepped outside for one of the Wolverines’ 10 3-pointers. The Michigan portion of the United Center crowd cheered wildly when seldom-used reserves Charlie May — the coach's son — and Oscar Goodman entered for the final few minutes.
Goodman scored with 2:32 left and May made a 3 with 1:02 remaining for Michigan’s final basket.
“Just playing together and understanding that we all need each other to be successful,” said Nimari Burnett, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. “So making that extra pass, that unselfish play that leads from a good shot to a great shot, I feel like we had a lot of that, especially in the first half that built that lead.
“We like where we are right now at the end of the game.”
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg celebrates after defeating Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Tennessee's Felix Okpara heads to the bench during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Michigan, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Tennessee's Jaylen Carey (23) and Michigan's Elliot Cadeau (3) reach for the ball as Tennessee's Nate Ament (10) watches during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan's Roddy Gayle Jr. (11), Yaxel Lendeborg (23) and Elliot Cadeau (3) celebrate during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Tennessee, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Tennessee, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
