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. 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