I
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 2, 1998 - 15A
Softball overcomes weather,
?enn State, for
y T.J. Berka
Daily Sports Xtter
When a team is on a hot streak, nothing can stop them.
Whether it's subpar pitching, lack of hitting, baserunning
errors trying to bring them down, it really doesn't matter.
When a team is hot, it will win.
With its 18th consecutive victory, the Michigan softball
Dai overcame a foe that doesn't tend to lose very often -
Mother Nature. After a five-hour rain delay, the second-
ranked Wolverines (5-0 Big Ten, 26-3 overall) swept Penn
State in a doubleheader, winning 10-7 in the first game and
oD -coming the Nittany Lions 6-5 in an eight-inning night-
flWhile the 18-game tear is significant for Michigan, the
victories over the Nittany Lions (2-3, 12-15-1) gave the
Wolverines wins in their first five conference games for the
first time ever. Michigan had started 4-0 many times, but had
never been able to notch a fifth victory until last night.
With the weather and a stingy Penn State team, the record
start didn't come without difficulty. The Nittany Lions forced
the game into an extra inning in the second game when first
baseman Shannon Salsburg smacked a two-run home run off
starter Jaime Gillies. The homer scored second baseman
Allison Medellin, who had singled earlier in the inning.
The Wolverines made sure there was no room for upset as
they answered back with the game-deciding run in the eighth.
After Penn State's Traci Kalp got the first two outs, right-
record start
fielder Kellyn Tate beat out a grounder to second base for a
single. After a wild pitch - which advanced Tate to second
- and a walk to Melissa Gentile, Sara Griffin laced a single
into left field to drive in Tate for the winning run.
After coming up with the go-ahead RBI, Griffin replaced
Gillies and retired the Nittany Lions in order to move her
record to a perfect 15-0.
The first game was more of what the Wolverines were used
to, as they surged past the Lions 10-7. The leader of the game
was first baseman Traci Conrad. Conrad, the reigning con-
ference player of the week, drove in three runs.
After bolting out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the third,
Michigan saw the Lions score six runs of their own in the
third and fourth innings to deadlock the game at six. Griffin,
who came into the doubleheader with a 0.65 ERA, gave up
six hits during the rally. The major contributor for the Lions
was Laura Snee, who drove in three runs during the spurt.
Michigan was not bothered by Penn State's uprising
though, as it finished off the game with three runs in the fifth.
Centerfielder Lisa Kelley started things off with a bunt sin-
gle. After a sacrifice and a walk to Tate, Gentile put the
Wolverines up to stay with a single into center.
After a groundout, third baseman Pam Kosanke singled to
left center. Penn State leftfielder Tanis Ambelang fuel the
fired even more, misplaying the ball and committing a two-
base error to bring in Tate and Gentile. Penn State never
threatened again after that.
FIlE PHOTO
Catcher Melissa Gentile and the rest of the Michigan softball team swept Penn State in a doubleheader yesterday to continue
their 18 game winning streak. The Wolverines are off to their best Big Ten start ever at 5-0.
Reid makes debut on mound for 'M'
Michigan point guard makes transition to hardwood to diamond; pitches for
first time in two years and strikes out three, gets first hit as Wolverine
By Andy Latack
Daily Spor ts W'riter
As it has been many times this season,
the ball was once again in Robbie Reid's
hands yesterday.
Only this time, Crisler Arena sat quietly
beyond the centerfield fence, and Reid
was standing on the pitcher's mound at
Ray Fisher Stadium.
And rather than launching 3-pointers,
the junior was throwing fastballs.
Reid, who was playing point guard on
the Michigan basketball team no more
than two-and-a-half weeks ago, made his
pitching debut yesterday, throwing two
scoreless innings in Michigan's 7-0 victo-
ry over Detroit.
After joining the team as a pitcher and
an outfielder following the conclusion of
the basketball season, Reid saw his first
action on the hill in two years yesterday.
Reid played two seasons of baseball at
BYU, his previous school, and was named
all-state four times as a pitcher at Spanish
Fork High School in Utah.
Yet, after serving a two-year Mormon
nission and transferring to Michigan
before this year, it had been a long time
since he had taken the mound in a game
situation. But Reid wasn't worried about
the layoff.
Michigan "coach (Geoff) Zahn told me
I had the next inning, and I got loose pret-
ty quick," Reid said. "It's like riding a
bike. I got up there and I felt pretty good."
Reid looked pretty good, too.
Entering the game on the heels of a
marvelous five-inning, no-hit perfor-
mance by Bryan Cranson, Reid struck out
three of the eight batters he faced in his
two-inning outing.
And while Reid gave up two hits in the
sixth, and had runners at first and third
before retiring the side, it was a produc-
tive showing for the team's newest mem-
ber.
"I was a little rusty, but it was nice to
have those first innings under my belt,"
Reid said.
Continuing his week of firsts, Reid got
his first hit as a Wolverine this week as
well, knocking a single in Tuesday's victo-
ry over Western Michigan. He went one-
for-two on the day.
"My stroke feels pretty good, and I felt
like I was seeing the ball well," Reid said.
"Hopefully, I can keep improving."
Some of the credit for Reid's improve-
ment, which is expected to continue
steadily as the season goes on, goes to the
rest of the Wolverines.
Joining the team midway through the
year is tough, and the team's newest addi-
tion is still learning from his new team-
mates.
"These guys have been playing for four
or five months straight," Reid said. "And
baseball is such a timing sport that you
Robbie Reid's Debuts
Basketbal
vs. W. Michigan
Field goals: 1-5
3-pointers: 0-3
Points: 2
Turnovers: 4
Personal fouls: 3
Minutes: 38
Baseball
vs. W. Mich./Det.
Hits-at bats: 1-2
Homeruns: 0
Strikeouts: 3
Earned runs: 0
Walks: 1
Innings pitched:2
Robbie Reid,
shown here cele-
brating the bas-
ketball team's
Big Ten tourna-
ment champi-
onship, made his
season debut for
the Michigan
'hbaseball team
this week. Reid
struck out three
t batters in yester-
-day's victory over
4.AARGRETDetroit.
ARGARET MYERS/Daily
ITANS
ontinued from Page 11
is weckend. I am just glad that
iings are working for me again after
struggling in the last couple games."
' Robbie Reid also made his first
>itching appearance of the season,
:llowing just two hits.
"Robbie is a great addition to our
team," Zahn said. "Having him pitch
the middle relief is really going to
0lp us this year. Once we get more
to the season, we hope to see some
really good things."
a Freshian Nick Alexander and
Junior Ryan Kelley pitched the eighth
end ninth innings respectively. Both
retired the side in order.
"ZHopefully, the pitching will be
great all season like it wras today,"
Cranson said. "Once it gets back to
where it should be I think we will real-
* be a strong team."
The offCnse continued score as they
need repetition, so it's a little tough to get
back into the swing of things."
But the team has made sure that Reid's
adjustment is a smooth one.
"The guys on the team are great, and
they're really supportive," Reid said.
"They're great guys to be around, so that
makes it fun. It's a comfortable transi-
tion."
Reid is not the only two-sport athlete
that will join the maize and blue midway
through the baseball season.
Michigan hockey player Matt Herr, who
is playing in the NCAA hockey final four
this week, will join the team after the
weekend.
Herr has lettered in both sports since he
was a freshman.
have done all season, not wasting any
time getting on the scoreboard.
Third baseman Mike Cervenak pro-
vided the most of the offensive fire-
power throughout the game. He went
3-for-5 with three RBI's, including a
375-foot home run in the bottom of
the second. Cervenak also recorded
his eighth home run of the season,
already doubling last year's producc-
tion.
Junior second baseman Bobby
Scales went 3 for 5 with one RBI,
while left fielder Jason Alcaraz also
supplied run support, going two-for-
three with two RBIs.
The heart of the lineup - consist-
ing of brothers Derek and Brvan
Bresco - struggled. going just l for 9.
"Cervenak, Alcaraz and Scales all
produced fairly well." Zahn said. "We
are just concerned with the production
of the Besco brothers.
"They are the heart of the lineup
and for them to be in a slump hurts
us."
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