Baseball vs. Detroit Mercy Tomorrow, 3 p.m. Fisher Stadium S 'TS Softball vs. Central Michigan Tomorrow, 3 p.m. (DH) Mount Pleasant Women's tennis clinches first place in Big Ten season a By MARC DILLER DAILY SPORTS WRITER For the first time in school history, the 34th-ranked Michigan women's tennis team jumped into first place in the conference this weekend. The Wolverines defeated 24th-ranked Wisconsin and 10th-ranked Northwestern, Sat- urday and yesterday, respectively, at Liberty Sports Complex. "These were definitely the two biggest wins of my career and in Michigan women's tennis history, to beat two top-25 teams back to back in the same weekend," Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said. "This is the best tennis we've played all year as a team." The Wolverines (9-1 Big Ten, 15-6 overall) solidified atleastrunner-up status in the confer- ence with their 5-4 victory over the Badgers (5- 2,9-8). With Michigan and Wisconsin tied 4-4, the Wolverines eked out a three-set victory over Wisconsin's No. 2 doubles team. Co-captain Liz Cyganiak and her freshman sister, Sarah, defeated the Badgers' Marjon Copier and Colleen Lucey. The Cyganiaks rebounded from a one-set deficit taking the second set, 6-3. The tandem, down 4-2 in the third set and battling its third deuce of the seventh game, triumphed when Liz hit a forehand winner down the line. The Cyganiaks swept past their opponents in the next three games, boasting a 6-4 victory to claim the match and the meet. Earlierin the season, thepairfaced asimilar predicament against Illinois and emerged vic- torious. "I was relaxed playing out there with my sister because we've been in similar situation before," Liz said. "We felt that if we could get it close, then Wisconsin would break down in the end." The No. 3 doubles team of juniors Jaimie Fielding and Simone Lacher defeated Jamie Fouret and Stephany Benz, 7-5,6-2. Lacher, celebrating her 21st birthday, also claimed victory in the afternoon's most excit- ing singles matchup, claiming a 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 win over Fouret. The Wolverines' No. 1 singles player, the younger Cyganiak, and No. 4, sophomore Angie Popek, achieved victory as well on the afternoon. Sarah defeated Marija Neubauer in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, and Popek went the distance against Benz before triumphing, 5-7,6-2,6-4. Yesterday, Michigan exceeded its expecta- tions and climbed to the top of the Big Ten with its 6-3 defeat over the Wildcats (7-1, 13-1). On the heels of her impressive doubles victory the day before, Liz crushed Northwestern's hopes for victory with an ex- hausting three-set win over Joanna Feria, 6-3, 4-6,6-4. The match lasted aMichigan women's tennis record five hours and 10 minutes. "It was a mentally and physically grueling match," Liz said. "If I was going to stay out there five hours for atennis match then I figured I might as well win it." Lacher completed her perfect weekend with a singles win over the Wildcats' No. 6, Mary Beth Novak, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. She garnered an- other doubles victory while paired with Field- ing, toppling Novak and Anna Scharfeld, 6-3, 7-5. "I felt very confident out there," Lacher said. "I want to carry this all into the Big Ten meet and do it there again." Sarahalso impressed all with herweekendls See TENNIS, Page 13 Baseball splits with Iowa Wolverines remain tied for third By SCOTT BURTON DAILY BASEBALL WRITER Some baseball gurus say that a good indication of how a baseball team is going to fare in the midst of a playoff race is how the depths of the pitching staff perform. But others will wryly point out that a team can't win if it doesn't score runs. Hence is the conflict of the third-place Michigan baseball team (9-7 Big Ten, 15-17 overall) after this weekend's series split with Iowa (9-7, 17-19-1) that left both teams tied for the last playoff spot in the Big Ten. Yes, the Wolverines' pitching continued to impress and improve in the four-game series. However, the hitting disappeared in costly fashion in several decisive moments. "I thought going into the season our pitch- ing was going to be our strong suit and that's what I'm seeing," Freehan said. "All in all we've got some good hitters. But if you look at the number of one-run losses we've had this year, that's the thing that's hurt us." Michigan had its chance to pull ahead from Iowa in the Big Ten race in yesterday's second game, after taking two out of the first three contests of the weekend. However, the offense was baffled by the pitching combi- nation of Justin Schulte (1-3) and Kurt Belger, managing just two hits in a 6-0 loss. Mark Temple (1-2) - filling in Heath Murray's spot in the rotation -pitched an admirable game, retiring the first nine bat- ters he faced. Unfortunately, the defense that often picks untimely moments to fall apart, did just that in a decisive four-run fourth. "For the most part I was not upset with anything Mark Temple did," Freehan said. "We just didn't make a couple of plays behind him. A couple of balls eluded us, a ball gets away from the catcher and all of a sudden we're behind." Chris Newton (1-2) pitched whatFreehan said was his finest performance as a Wolver- ine in yesterday's opening game, a 5-1 Michi- gan victory. Newton completed the game, allowing six hits and notching three strikeouts. The Wolverines gave Newton a friendly cushion to work with after an unusual five- run outburst in the fifth. Although Michigan managed only one hit in the inning, it plated single runs with the bases loaded after an error, a hits bats- man and a walk. Ironically, perhaps Michigan's bestpitch- ingperformancecamein the Wolverines' loss in the first game of the series - a 4-3, ten- inning duel Saturday. Michigan's Ray Ricken (2-4) pitched the whole game - his sixth complete game of the year - while surren- dering only five hits and two earned runs. However, one of the two runs that weren't charged to Ricken cost him the game in the tenth. Ricken appeared tohave forced Hawkeye Matt Ostrom into a double-play groundout with runners on first and second and one out. in Big Ten race But second baseman Kevin Crociata threw the ball away to first base, allowing Jim Cataldo to score the winning run. Michigan couldn't answer in the tenth off of Hawkeye starter Colon Mattaise, re- tiring in order. Mattaise also went the dis- tance, allowing eight hits and three earned run for his fifth win of the year. Ron Hollis continued his impressive pitching in the Big Ten in Saturday's cap- per, a 9-3 Wolverine victory. Hollis (3-4) pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing eight hits and three runs for his third confer- ence win. He sports a 2.36 ERA in Big Ten play, with 24 strikeouts in 26 innings. "After that disheartening loss in extra innings, Ron came back and gave us a lift," Freehan said. "He pitched an outstanding game and allowed us to turn our bats on andl score some runs." Michigan's bats awoke from its first- game slumber, rocking Iowa starter Scott Smull (2-5) for nine runs in three innings. Leftfielder Scott Weaver was the main vic- timizer, nailing a bases loaded triple to cap a five-run, second-inning. Weaver finished with five RBI on the day, with two runs scored. JUU Il E aiy Mark Temple delivers during the Wolverines' 6-0 loss to Iowa. Hollis returns to form after bout wit Test prep is a big Investment. We have the only THE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED PRINCETON national grad test score REVIEW 1 provements.(7.5pts on the LSAT) we core men By BRETT JOHNSON DAILY BASEBALL WRITER One more out. That's all Michi- gan pitcher Ron Hollis needed Satur- day against Iowa for his fourth com- plete game of the Big Ten season. Unfortunately, he ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh in- ning, and reliever John Arvai had to finish the game to give Hollis his third conference victory. However, the seventh was only a small blemish in the Ron Hollis come- back story. Last May, Hollis entered the hospital after being diagnosed with a case of phlebitis. In layman's terms, he had a blood clot in his leg. It was an injury that cost Hollis the rest of the season and a summer of develop- ment. However, that was the least of Hollis' concerns. The problem could have been much more serious than just ending a season of pitching. "When it came down to it, it could have been life-threatening because it was a circulatory problem," Hollis said. "Thatput (baseball and life) into perspective. It really was a shock to think something that serious was hap- pening to me." Of course, Hollis was not the only one worrying. His doctors put him on medication and monitored the situa- tion for most of the summer. His coaches and teammates were equally worried. Pitching coach Art "Ace" Adams did not know if Hollis would pitch again. "There were a lot of worries," Adams said. "He was on medication for about five months to make sure Im No other company can back up their scores like we can. l.Ptrneon Rview Is not aff ilated with Th. Educational 61636 WRAm wmitw- I h phlebitis the blood wasn't reclotting in his legs. We weren't sure if he was going to come back, but he's 100 percent now' and he's helping us." Helping the team is exactly what Hollis is doing. He is tied for the team lead in Big Ten victories with three, including wins at Indiana and home against Michigan State and Iowa. Hiq only Big Ten loss was at Penn State, a game that Michigan head coach Bill Freehan called his best outing of the season. "He was a little behind because he didn't pitch this summer, but right now he's one of our best," Adams said. "He's got good command over' all three of his pitches and that's why: he's been successful." However, it's the win over the; Spartans that may symbolize Hollis' complete recovery. In the home vic-: tory, Hollis threw a no-hitter. "When it first happened, it didn't really hit me," Hollis said. "When the; last pop-up came down, it felt really- good to know that I could go out there- and really shut a team down. "I had a good game at Indiana anda then I backed it up against State. It l proved to myself that I could do it- week after week." If Hollis continues to put up the See HOLLIS, Page -16 Special Financing with proof of degree or commitment of graduation (Graduate students also eligible) and proof of job or commitment of future employment To apply for this special program, simply fill out the form on the right and bring it in. 9 proof of car insurance needed NEW '94 Acura tgra RS * previous credit history NOT required with air conditioning, Clean, Affordable Used Imports Arriving Daily- for College asR Graduate Financinga Ask about or College Graduate Leasing Programs & more! QUALIFICATION FORM , Name Address City State :0 1 Zit) I -~-r AL m