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Women'sTennis Football
vs. Minnesota Blue-White Game
Tomorrow, 11 a.m. Tomorrow, 1:30 p.m.
Liberty Sports Complex Michigan Stadium
The Michigan Daily Friday, April 9,1993 Page 10
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Things come together for Blue
Pitching and 1mely hfitng help Wdverines end10-game losing sfreak
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by Brett Johnson
Daily Baseball Writer
It's been 18 days, but the
baseball gods finally shined on
Michigan baseball yesterday. The
Wolverines (0-8 Big Ten, 6-23
overall) finally put another mark in
the win column, defeating Saginaw
Valley (10-6 overall), 4-1.
"I don't know if I know what to
say," Michigan coach Bill Freehan
said. "I don't know what you do
talking with a smile on your face to
the opposing coach. It's been a
while."
Outstanding pitching perfor-
mances from starter and winner
Chris Newton and relievers Matt
Humbles, Bryan Santo and Todd
Marion paced the Wolverines.
Newton came in with a 14.73 ERA
in six appearances but was able to
pitch an outstanding four innings.
Although he walked four batters,
Newton did not allow a hit and
struck out seven Cardinals.
Humbles entered the game in the
top of the fifth and proceeded to
pitch three scoreless innings. Santo,
following Humbles, gave up the
Cardinals' lone run.
Saginaw Valley's Mitch Willis
led off the top of the eighth with a
single and, after a fielder's choice
moved him to second, Cory Sturges
hit a rocket up the middle that
clipped Santo in his side and rico-
cheted into the hole between first
and second. By the time Wolverine
second baseman Matt Copp
retrieved the ball, Willis had reached
third, and Sturges was safe at first.
Mike Bloomfield followed the single
up with a fielder's choice to score
Willis, cutting the lead to 2-1.
After Santos surrendered the run,
stopper Todd Marion closed out the
game. He fanned four of the five
batters he faced to earn his fourth
save of the year.
"We pitched some guys today
that did a better job than they've
been doing," Freehan said. "It was
not the quality of competition that
we've been playing against, but it's
nice to get a win anytime."
Offensively, the Wolverines
pounded nine hits and lit up the
scoreboard almost immediately. In
the first inning, lead-off hitter Rod-
ney Goble singled and then stole
second base off starter and losing
pitcher, Mark Bladecki. Two outs
later, Scott Winterlee continued his
excellent hitting by doubling to
score Goble. It was Winterlee's sixth
consecutive hit spanning the last
three games. Brian Simmons then
singled to score Winterlee, and
Michigan took the early lead, 2-1.
"It's the type of thing where we
just had to pull together as a team,"
Goble said of the victory. "We just
had to keep working and sooner or
later things were going to come to-
gether. We finally got things to-
gether and got the win."
After the Cardinals scored in the
top of the eighth, the Wolverines
came back with two more in the bot-
tom of the inning. After Bladecki
allowed a lead-off double to Kevin
Crociata, Saginaw Valley brought in
one of its top relievers, Mickey
Kimsell. Kimsell, however, had
trouble with his control. After an-
other single, an error and two wild
pitches, the Wolverines had added
two insurance runs to complete the
4-1 victory.
Michigan now jumps back into
Big Ten play as it takes on Penn
State (1-7, 9-12). This series marks
the return of DH Nate Holdren whq
has been recovering from a footba-
related knee injury.
"I just want to get the feel of
baseball back," Holdren said. "I
haven't played in a game since
summer. I just want to get some at-
bats."
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DUGL~LAS IKANITE/LDaI~y
Pitcher Matt Humbles follows through in the Wolverines' victory over
Saginaw Valley yesterday. Humbles tossed three innings of shutout ball.
BASEBALL NOTEBOOK
by Antoine Pitts
Daily Baseball Writer
Injuries continue to be a problem for the Michigan baseball team.
Although the Wolverines will get junior power hitter Nate Holdren back
for this weekend's two doubleheaders at Penn State, several other players
remain out indefinitely.
Second baseman Scott Timmerman continues to be sidelined with a
broken thumb on his throwing hand, and shortstop Ryan Van Oeveren is
put with a seperated shoulder. Both injuries occurred last week against
,Eastern Michigan.
In yesterday's game at Fisher Stadium, first baseman Scott Weaver left
the game early because of a collision on the base paths, and shortstop Scott
Winterlee played with a sore shoulder. Weaver left because of a sore leg
;stiffening up.
"Injuries are part of any game," Michigan coach Bill Freehan said.
"(Van Oeveren) was out here today and he's undergoing therapy."
Freehan has to be excited with the return of Holdren. The 6-foot-5, 240
pound designated hitter led the team last year with seven homers. A knee
injury suffered during football season has kept him out of the lineup all
season.
Injuries plague hitters,
but Holdren returns
"I'm just happy that he's healthy and he can help us," Freehan said.
IS HE SAFE OR IS HE OUT?: The play that Weaver was injured on
occured in the bottom of the third and was surrounded by controversy.
Weaver hit a grounder to Saginaw Valley second baseman Cory
Sturges. The throw from Sturges was errant but Weaver collided with the
first baseman after touching the bag. After a momentary pause, pitcher
Mark Bladecki retrieved the ball and tagged Weaver who was still on the
ground writhing in pain.
The umpire ruled that Weaver had attempted to advance to second, and
thus could be tagged out.
LOOK OUT, TED WILLIAMS: Senior Scott Winterlee continues to rip
the cover off the ball. His first-inning single was his sixth consecutive hit.
Playing injured, Winterlee has improved his average to .300. The 2-for-4
day gave Winterlee eight hits in his last 11 at bats.
STRIKEOUT CITY: The four Michigan pitchers, Chris Newton, Matt
Humbles, Brian Santo and Todd Marion accumulated 12 strikeouts, a
new season high. Newton got things rolling by striking out seven in four
innings, setting a career high in the process. Humbles came on to fan one,
and Marion retired four on strikes.
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4
" No security deposits
" Language programs
" Programs for children
good reasons why
o Free University bus service
" Rental rates include utilities
UM students, faculty, and staff
" Beautiful community center
" All near classes, work, shopping
should. choose a family housing
" Academic and international community
" On-site Day Care in the Child Development Center
apartment or townhouse.
" Some units near the North Campus Recreation Building
Interested? Here's what to do:
If you are eligible
and want to move in Before July 1, 1993......Apply Now
After July 1, 1993 Apply April 14
You can apply at...
The Housing Information Office at 01 1 Student Activities Building
Monday through Friday from 8am until 4pm.
A ... U I A A--- I.a
Tigers wM
first game
of young
season, 3-2
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - After
bobbling one double-play ball for an
error earlier in the ninth inning, De-
troit shortstop Travis Fryman got
some help the second time around.
With the bases loaded, Fryman
hung on to Jerry Browne's grounder
and second baseman Lou Whitaker
made a brilliant move in eluding
Rickey Henderson to turn the game-
ending double play Thursday. That
gave the Tigers their first win of the
season, 3-2 over the Oakland Athlet-
ics.
Fryman, whose error on a hit-
and-run play put runners on first and
second with nobody out, shrugged
off the miscue, saying, "If you win
the game, it has no bearing."
Whitaker, who also started a
double play with runners on first and
third in the seventh, was happy to
bail out his teammate after Mike
Bordick reached base on what
should have been a double play.
"We all make errors," he said.
"We were expecting a bunt, not a
hit-and-run play."
After the error, a sacrifice by Eric
Fox and an intentional walk to Hen-
derson loaded the bases. Reliever
Mike Henneman buckled down to
preserve the win for the beleaguered
Tigers pitching staff, who gave up
21 runs in losing the first two games
of the season.
"I'm going to make my pitches,
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Former third baseman Tina Martin has left the team for personal reasons.;
Softball aims to defeat
preseason choice 'Cats
by Scott Burton
Daily Sports Writer
After sweeping Minnesota last
weekend, the No. 15 Michigan
softball team (2-0 Big Ten, 16-6
overall) heads into this weekend's
series of doubleheaders with
Northwestern looking to maintain
its position on top of the Big Ten
standings.
Although the Wildcats (0-0, 13-
14) have struggled somewhat this
year, none of the Wolverines are
taking them lightly. Northwestern
was a preseason Big Ten favorite,
along with Michigan and Iowa, and
should give the Wolverines all they
can handle.
"Northwestern is the team to
beat this year (in the Big Ten)
along with Iowa," said pitcher
Kelly Forbis (10-2, 1.39 ERA) who
was named Big Ten Pitcher of the
week for her performances against
the Gophers. "But I think we are up
to the challenge and we can do it."
"This weekend is going to be re-
ally important," said pitcher Kelly
Kovach (6-4, 1.25) who, along with
Forbis, makes up one of the Big
Ten's most lethal pitching duos.
"Considering that it is at North-
western - they have their home-
field advantage - that's why I
strates.
"We just have to hit Hawkins to
get her out of the game the first
day, so when she comes back the
second day she's not as confident,"
Kovach said. "She pitched really
well against us last year - so as
long as we hit her, we'll do fine
against their second pitcher.
"I don't think our hitters have
any major weaknesses, and I think
they will be fine," Kovach added,
"They have hit some really quality
hitters this spring."
Michigan this weekend -- and
for the rest of the season - will
have to do without junior third
baseman Tina Martin. Martin left
the team for personal reasons after
starting nine games at the corner
this year with a .167 batting aver-
age.
Martin has been a solid contrib-
utor to the Wolverines the last tw4
seasons. In her freshman year, she
played in 49 games, hitting .191
with four RBI. She added 14 RBI
and a .238 average in 53 games he-
sophomore year.
"She's a good ball player, an)
we will miss her a lot," Forbis said,
"But I think we'll pick up from it. I
think everyone understands why
she left the team, and we'll miss her
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