01 Page 8 -The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, April 5, 1988 Michigan pitching stifles WMU Kansas finds end of rainbow, 83-79 By LORY KNAPP Kicking off its home opener with a bang, the women's softball team swept a doubleheader from Western Michigan yesterday, 3-2 and 7-0. The victories pushed the Wolverines above the .500 mark for the first time this season with a 9- 8 record. Following the Broncos' two-run first inning in the first game, strong Michigan pitching held Western scoreless the rest of the day. Senior pitcher Michelle Bolster recorded the victory in the first game, striking out eight, while rookie Andrea Nelson hurled a shutout in the second game for her fifth win of the season. "Andrea threw the best I've seen all year," said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. "If we keep pitching like this we'll win a lot of games." NELSON IS NOT the only first-year player who is having a good season. Rookie sensation Julie Cooper, who is leading the team in hitting with a .351 average (20 hits), went four-for-eight in the doubleheader. After falling behind quickly, 2-0, in the first inning of the first game, the Wolverine bats re- sponded in their half of the inning with two runs of their own. A lead-off single by Bonnie Tholl and an error that allowed Cooper to reach first put runners on first and second. Jenny Allard then drove in the first run with a single of her own, and a single by Bolster drove in the second run of the inning. MaryAnn Daviera hit a two-out, bases loaded single in the bottom of the fifth be the game-winning RBI. which proved to The second game was a different story as the Wolverines waited until the fifth inning to ex- plode. Bridget Venturi was hit by a pitch, and Beth Mueller and Cooper followed with singles to load the bases. Allard's three-run double made it 3-0. "If you are the other team, you don't want Allard up with the bases loaded," said Hutchins. Allard went five-for-six in the two games. Bolster, showing her hitting prowess, drove in Allard with her fourth home run of the season in only 17 games. Cooper and April Bagley added the other two RBIs in the bottom of the sixth with a fielder's choice play and a sacrifice. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Danny Manning scored 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as unranked Kansas won its second national championship with an 83-79 victory over No.4 Oklahoma last night to become the losingest champion in NCAA history. The Jayhawks, 26-11, played fast and slow and withstood a record-set- ting three-point performance from Oklahoma's Dave Sieger to avenge two losses against the Sooners, 35- 4, during the regular season. This was the third championship game played between two teams from the same conference, and it was the third this decade in which a heavy underdog managed to win the title. Kansas was an eight-point underdog,butin the first half the Jayhawks ran with the Sooners, the nation's second-leading scoring team and the regular-season and tourna- ment champions in the Big Eight. Then they showed patience in the second half, running down the 45- second clock before taking good percentage shots. The Jayhawks shot 64 percent for the game, 35 of 55, and they cooled off after a first half in which they made 17 of 20 at one pomt. NL We st will look up to Giants once again San Francisc and Cincinnati. By LISA GILBERT Ah, mediocrity. In the topsy-turvy world of the National League West, where con- flict and controversy are the rule rather than the exception, the one thing that remains consistent is mediocrity. No team has won back-to-back division titles since the Dodgers did it in '77 and '78. The West hasn't produced a World Series champion since 1981. All six teams have serious ques- tions they must answer before any- one can be considered a legitimate front-runner. Questions such as: -Can Roger Craig squeeze another year out of starting pitchers Rick Reuschel, 38, and Mike Krukow, 36? -How will the young Reds re- spond to the loss of club leader Dave Parker? -How does Tommy Lasorda ex- pect to improve the worst defensive infield in the NL? -Which Astro team will show up in 1988? Until some of these questions are answered, the NL West shapes up to be a two-team race again between Here are the teams in the predicted order of finish: San Francisco-Despite their collapse in the playoffs last year, the Giants had a banner season in win- ning their first division title since 1971. The star-studded 1987 lineup returns with one noticeable new face, speedy center fielder Brett Butler. The Giants feature the division's top infield. In addition to infielders Jose Uribe and Robby Thompson, slugging sensation Will Clark is THE SPORTING VIEWS years which team has the best over- all record in the NL West? You guessed it-- the Cincinnati Reds. Restless Reds fans are frustrated with three consecutive second-place finishes. After considerable club- house dissention last year, owner Marge Schott fired 13 upper-level executives and hired Murray Cook as her new general manager. Cook promptly acquired lefty Danny Jackson in a move that will help solidify shaky starting pitching. However, in a decision that raised eyebrows around the league, he dumped the team's inspirational leader Dave Parker. Still, despite an overwhelming amount of talent, the question per- sists as to whether Rose is capable of leading the Reds to a division ti- tle. This could be his last chance. Los Angeles-The Dodgers went into the off-season looking to im- prove the worst defensive infield in the majors. New GM Fred Claire proceeded to acquire shortstop Al- fredo Griffin from Oakland. The plan was then to move Steve Sax from second to third base and Mariano Duncan from shortstop to second. Problem solved, right? Wrong. Duncan has since been demoted to the minors and the new arrangement has Pedro Guerrero, not known for his fielding ability, at third. Griffin is no defensive ace either. He com- mitted the second highest amount of errors among AL shortstops last year. On a brighter note, Claire did sign multi-talented free agent Kirk Gibson. Gibson will fit in nicely with Guerrero and Mike Marshall to form the heart of the Dodgers order. San Diego-Surprised? You shouldn't be. After being 19 games out in May last season, Larry Bowa's troops settled down to post a 52-45 record from June 5 to September 23. Despite a sixth-place finish, San Diego made no major trades in the off-season. The Padres feel that they have some of the league's best young talent, including NL Rookie of the Year Benito Santiago and John Kruk. Tony Gwynn is a fixture in right field, but pitching is a problem when the staff ace is Ed.Whitson (10-13, 4.73). Houston-Flashback. 1986. As- tros have the best pitching staff in baseball. Mike Scott wins the Cy Young Award. Houston captures the division title. Flashback. 1987. Astro pitching slumps badly. Twenty fewer wins, six fewer shutouts and five fewer complete games. Scott slips to a mediocre 16-13. Houston finishes a distant third. Although the Astros claim 1987 was a fluke, the guess here is that they lack the firepower and pitching to challenge San Francisco or Cincinnati. Atlanta-With no major off-sea- son acquisitions, Dale Murphy re- mains the only major league name on the roster. Braves fans are in for another long season. 0 one of the NL's brightest young stars, and Kevin Mitchell, acquired last year from San Diego at mid- season, hit .306 as a Giant. Both starting and relief pitching remain steady if unspectacular. Craig came within a game of the World Series last year without a single pitcher who finished higher than ninth in any statistical category. There's no reason to expect that he won't do it again. Cincinnati-Over the last three I 9 One Month's Free Rent Albert Terrace 1506 Geddes 1700 Geddes SENIOR SEND-OFF 0 0 Heat & Water Included - WRAPPING THINGS UP *Tying up loose ends in AnnArbor *Getting started in a new city " Lifestyle changes *Financial issues after college S Discusslife in the real world with graduate students, professionals and peers President and Mrs. Robben Fleming cordially invite all students to an Open House in their home at 815 S. University Monday, April 11, 1988 from 4:00-5:30pm Refreshments served Spacious 2 Bedroom Bi-Levels Large 2 Bedroom Apartments Furnished Air conditioned Laundry Facilities Parking for Tenants 543 Church Street (313) 761-1523 We also have other great properties! which are centrally located to campus Yes we're open Saturdays. Tuesday April 5th 7 to 9 p.m. in the Michigan Union Pendleton Room - Bring friends !I- -Refreshments - Sponsored by the Student Organization Development Center xx Adw- 0I mon... thursday's c.a 1 AUGJ presents comedian JOEC DA "THE W BAL Studen MIKE TOWER HARRY WED! AF And' JON isses aren't all tha SUNCL iNNY ILD Mi .LARD nt Comedians BERBERIAN NESDAY PRIL 6 it important ZACK zdT~p Cometdy E JN" JIM MERCURIO E3$TO JAPAN DISCOUNT FARE FROM DETROIT (WEEKDAY DEPARTURE) ALL NIPPON AIR $750.00 NORTHWEST $735.00 UNITED AIR $795.00 JAPAN AIR $850.00 - HOTEL PACKAGE - TOKYO HOTEL SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE 2 NIGHTS $160.00 (Single) OSAKA HOTEL NEW OTANI 2 NIGHTS $170.00 (Single) o- !At1 1*-P-nor t f .r-P2k1t 0 Your Host N FORD