CKEY MONTREAL 2, Carolina 0 St. Louis 4, WASHINGTON 2 DETROIT 6, Vancouver 1 DALLAS 5, Anaheim 1 COLORADO 4, Nashville 1 EDMONTON 4. Calgary 2 NBA BASKETBALL BOSTON 108, Washington 87 CHARLOTTE 106, New York 82 DETROIT 89, Atlanta 82 BOSTON 108, Washington 87 CHARLOTTE 106, New York 82 MIAMI 93, Dallas 87 Indiana 91, CHICAGO 74 U j tcr n II Tracking 'M' teams Watch the Michigan softball team rise in the polls. The Wolverines are now sixth in the nation, after this week's poll was released yesterday. Thursday April 8, 1999 H1A The hits keep coming Cold bats, but softball stays hot By Jon Zemke Daily Sports Writer There's an excitement from close calls. Cutting it close and nearly losing it all can make for a very good game. The No. 6 Michigan softball team had a few of those games yesterday as they swept Purdue (2-3 Big Ten, 20- 1 overall) in West Lafayette, 2-0 and 3-2. With the teams tied at two runs apiece in extra innings, Stefanie Volpe hit a single to left field with the bases loaded. Traci Conrad scored from third base to break the tie for the win 3-2. "We've been in every game recently and we've gone to extra innings twice," Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We've fought hard and we're right up there with the top 20 teams in the country." It was Michigan's (4-0, 32-5-1) first extra-innings game since they tied Iowa at the Capitol City Classic on March 21. The win extended the Wolverines' record eaten streak to 29 games, leaving the team unbeaten i*he months of March and April so far. After singling to center field, Karmen Lappo advanced to second on an error and then onto third on the throw. Conrad singled to centerfield to score Lappo for the first rui of the game in the third inning. The fourth inning was similar to the third for Michigan. Catherine Davie reached first on an infield single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Volpe. Pam Kosanke knocked in Michigan's second run with a centerfield single that allowed Davie to beat the to home. "ate Eiland pitched the first six innings of the contest, allowing an average of one hit and inning. Eiland didn't have enough to finish off the Boilermakers, though, as she was shelled in the seventh inning for the tying two runs. Coming to the rescue, Jaime Gillies relieved Eiland and pitched the final four innings for the win. Gillies allowed six hits, but prevented the winning run from being scored. The first game of the doubleheader was a pitchers' l, as Marie Barda shut out the Boilermakers all seven ungs. She allowed three hits and had two strikeouts. See PURDUE, Page 12A Blue uses power to spank Eastern By Chris Grandstaff Daily Sports Writer The Michigan baseball team continued to put their smack on the MAC yesterday, with a 12-3 spanking of Eastern Michigan at Fisher Stadium. The win pushed the Wolverines record (5-3 Big Ten, 17-13 overall) to 4-0 this season against the Mid- American Conference teams, with wins against Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Bowling Green already under their belt. The Wolverines were lead by the pitching of senior Ryan Kelley (3-0). Kelley shut out the Eagles over five MICHIGAN 12 innings, while allowing just two hits and striking out EASTERN MICHIGAN 3 three. Kelley's performance put the game out of reach for the Eagles, who trailed 10- 0 when he left the game. Kelley seems to have saved his best stuff for his senior season. The right-hander already has more wins this sea- son than in his previous three campaigns. Yesterday's moved him into a tie for second place on the team in wins this season, pretty impressive consider- ing his pitching was not at its best. "My off speed pitch was really working today," Kelly said. "It was good that it was, too, because I wasn't pitching my best stuff. Today was a real team effort. The guys did a good job of getting runs on the board for us." Michigan coach Geoff Zahn was pleased not just with Kelley, but with the entire staff. Kelley's replacements, Kirk Taylor, and Robbie Reid - who started in left field - allowed just one earned run on six hits. "I. was pleased with the pitching today," Zahn said. "Really the only runs we gave up today were on error." The Michigan bats were hot all day, too, as the Wolverines brought home 12 men on 12 hits. At the plate, Michigan was led by centerfielder Brian Bush. Bush's afternoon included a team-high three hits as well as two RBI, a stolen base and a run. Bobby Scales and Mike Cervenak did their share of :NCK/Daiiydamage as well. Cervenak's three-run double in the third , :an inning was the game's biggest blow, and was part of a six- See EASTERN, Page 12A' SARA SCHED Rob Bobeda and the Michigan baseball team used their hitting prowess to gamer a fourth victory against a Mid-Americ Conference opponent yesterday, defeating Eastern Michigan 12-3. This weekend, the Wolverines hope to continue their success against Big Ten leader Ohio State in a four-game series. Men's track goes west; Blue names next coach By David Moss. Daily Sports Writer This season has been filled with spe- cial moments for freshman Ike Okenwa. But Saturday may to prove to be the ultimate, as Okenwa heads back to his home town to compete for the Wolverines. The competition comes on the heels of the announcement that Ron Warhurst will be the new head coach, replacing Jack Harvey at the end of the season. Okenwa and the entire Michigan track and field squad travel to the west coast to take part in the San Diego Quad. The competition marks the Wolverines' first scored meet of the outdoor season, as Michigan will be joined by Washington, New Mexico, and San Diego State. In addition to running in front of family and friends, Okenwa will also see his first significant action of the outdoor season. Two weeks ago, at the Castillo Invitational, Okenwa limited himself to the 4x100-nieter relay. On THIS WEEKEND What:. The San Diego Quad Who- Michigan vs. Washington, New Mexico and San Diego State Where: San Diego State When: Saturday The Latest: Ron Warhust was recently named head coach of the Michigan men's track team. This weekend's head coach will still be Jack Harvey, who doesn't officially retire until Jan. 1, 2000. Saturday, Okenwa will compete in the 100 and 200 meters. "Ike hasn't run in the 100 and 200 yet," Michigan assistant coach Fred LaPlante said. "Running in an open race is a different feeling." San Diego may also prove to be the setting for freshman Oded Padan to snap out of his recent slump. Padan, a triple jump specialist, faded in the lat- ter part of the indoor season and strug- gled two weeks ago in his outdoor debut. This week, he is poised for a strong performance. "Oded has had some time to train," Michigan coach Jack Harvey said. "I expect him to turn things around." For the time of being, Warhurst will See TRACK, Page 12 Despite splash, dash, netters crash Sparty By Raphy Goodstein Daily Sports Writer EAST LANSING - The Michigan men's tennis team can sum up its trip to Michigan State with one statement. It came, it saw, and yes, it conquered. The Wolverines came to the land of milk and riots and managed to avoid a letdown and improved their record to 12- I with a 5-2 victory. "We knew we were going to come here and have a battle," freshman Ben Cox said after his 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Mark Jacobson. "Everybody just came in here, fought really hard, and we came away with a victory." The Wolverines remain undefeated in the Big Ten and are now 5-0. They had to be wary of not letting the flash of the Spartans throw them off their game. The Spartans (7-8) introduced their lineup by forming two lines and having an anouncer call off their names basket- ball-style. "I was expecting Mateen Cleaves to come running out after that," freshman Henry Beam said. "You would have thought that they were the three-time defending national champions in basket- ball." Beam's match was big-time too, because he recently ended a three-match losing streak on Sunday. He seemed to have regained the winning ways he had when he entered the Big Ten season with one loss after beating Francisco Trinidad 6-4, 6-2. "The captains, Jake Raiton and Will Farah, have been a really big help for me," Beam said. "Jake pulled me aside and just told me not to get too high or too low, and that has really made a big dif- ference for me." In the end, though, no amount of scare tactics would work on these Wolverines. Each match was a battle, but they fought hard when necessary. Four of the six singles matches went three sets, and all three doubles matches were determined by a break of the opponents' serve. I Ad Snyder and the Michigan men's track team head west to the San Diego PHOTO Quadrangular to take on San Diego State, Washington, and New Mexico. The Wolverines will be joined by the Michigan women's track team who will be running in the meet, as well. In Fomlight i f0 Over 25 Beers on Drafto~ Including: Bell's, Newcastle, Guinness & Youngs Try One Of Our Many Single Malts i