The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 16, 2001- 58
Call of the game
"You can't really symuch when you
lose 2 68."
Michigan firstbaseman Nate Wright, on Sunday 's loss
to Minnesota. The 18-r-un loss was its worst since
March 6, 1 972 (Arizona State 26, Michigan 1).
SERIES SCORE
Minnesota 3
I.Michigan
SUNDAY'S GAME
Minnesota 26
SMichigan 8
Player of the series
Jake Hannahan
cie the tour -game series, the thirdbaseman
went 9-/br- 19 at the plate with seven RBIs.
Three of those came in yesterday 's game. The
Gopher sIUtgter also sent three balls over the
out field walls over the weekend.
Irhe rotation recap
Michigan 5, MINNESOTA 3
- V
SSS<
No. 1BOBBY KORECKY
IP H R ER BB SO
9 83 3 1 9
Korecky (5-2, 2.13 ER A) pitched his sixth
complete game of the season, allowing three
earned runs in a 5-3 victory against the Golden
Gophers on Friday. His nine strikeout
performance was a career-high.
No. 2 NIcK ALEXANDER
IP H R ER BB SO
6.0 7 54 2 4
Alexander (1-3, 5.66) had a rough outing in
the first half of Saturday's doubleheader. He
surrendered five runs in the first three innings,
including a two-run homerun to Minnesota
rightfielder Jason Kennedy.
No. 3 TIM LEVEQUE
IP H 'RER BB SO
6.0 7 3 1 3 2
Leveque (2-1, 0.56) put his team-best ER A to
the test on Saturday. He allowed three runs in
six innings of work, and left the game with his
team down one. When the Wolverines forced
extra innings, Leveque avoided being credited
with the loss.
No. 4 RICH HILL.
IP H R ER BB SO
2.2 5 8 3 3 4
The sophomore Hill (2-3, 3.79) started what
would become the Wolverines' worst loss of
the season. The lanky lefthander hit the show-
ers early, after retiring just eight batters.
Minnesota
Player AB R HB
Steidl cf 3 1 2 1
Appcit 2b 40o10o
Hlannahan 3b4 1 2 2
H-olthaus c 4 0 0 0
Welch ss 4 0 1 0
"Guel ,r 0 0 0 0
Roachib 4 00 0
Howardff 4 110
Totals 353 8 3
Miohigan
Player AB R HBI
Tousa 2b 5 120o
Caitalrnessa If 5 1 0 0
Komnan 3b 5 1 1 0'
Wrighti1b 4 13a1
Lolio rf 3 1 00o
R3 ~ e/-0 0
Ghannamn ef 4 0 0 0
La osass 4 0 20
Totals 40 512 4
E -Wright (5): Welch 2(12). OP -Minnesota 1.
LOB - Minnesota 12. Michigan 6. 28 Wright (2):
Soko) (6): Steidl (8): Howard (S). Sf1 - Ghannaim
(4). S8~ Tousa (8).
IP H R ER 88 SO
orecynW (5-2) 9.0 8 3 3 1 9
courtesy the Minnesota Daily
Minnesota rightfielder Jason Kennedy (22) slides to avoid the tag at third. His Golden
Gophers avoided two losses SatUrday with some Clutch hitting in the late innings.
Minnesota
Kobow L (5-2) 5.2 9
Shupe 3.1 3
5 1 3 4
000 o1
S . a
Umpires - Ken Gracener (home plate). Curt Moreno
(first base). Jay Lyons (second base). Shawn Velek
Attendance: 523
Time:ay's2:m44
MINNESOTA 7, Michigan 6
"
~.5 a
I'
a
- £
(I
Nick Alexander started in the first of three Michigan
losses against the Golden Gophers.
It's All 'Wright'
.. SMichigan firstbasemnan Nate
s Wright has been tearing up
Big Ten pitchIng. After earning
conference player of the week
.-.-e.. .... honors against Indiana, Wiight
'~S~4. ~continued his torridpace this
A. weeken in M inneapolis.
seiAVG AB H R RBI
S...~' '~440 25 11 2 5
~'Season to date
.S:~~S:~vA G AB H R RBI
376 101 38 16 24
FiLUFWHITF/ODaily
THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
GOPH ERS
Continued from Page 1lB
lo ok ed t o t he sk ie s f or some
accountability.
"The wind took control of the
game, ' Wight said.
Minnesota bats were able to
exploit the 32 mph wind gusts on
Siebert Field by putting balls into
the air and letting the wind carry
them. But Mother Nature cannot be
held complet ely accoun table for a
loss as bad as yesterday's.
"You can't really say much when
you lose 26-8," Wrig~ht added.
Michigan's poor performance yes-
ter-day could have been the result of
two long, hard-fought games on Sat-
urday.
"I was pretty emotionally
drained. Sokol said.
The second game of the Saturday
doubleheader - a scheduled seven-
innng game - went nine innngzs,
.ending in a bases-loaded error by
L hoa allwin Gode Gopher
.Tousa single that scored pinch-run-
nr lake Rutkowsi from seCOnd.
In the top half of the doublehead-
exan der gt behind early allo-
ing five runs in the First three ~
innings, putt ing his team in a 5-0
hole.
But the Wolverines f ougzht back.
They entered the top of the seventh
down 5-3 after Alexander settled
down and shut out Minnesota in the
fourt h, fifth and si xth. But Sokol
would provide a kick - a three-run
homerun t hat drove in centerfielder
C.J. Ghannam and catcher Jake
Fox. and gzave the Wolverines a 6-5
lead.
But in the bottom of the seventh,.
Hlannahan did his most severe dam-
age of the weekend --a walk-off
two-run homerun to win the gare.
The Friday game -- the first of
t he series -was t he highlight for
Mic higaan. A ce p it cher Korecky ' s
win put the team in good spirit s. The
Wolverines were not able to defe~at
Minnesota last year. and after the
Friday win they thought this year
would be different.
'After the first game. we thought
we'd take the whole series," Sokol
said.
(A fter Friday) "I thought we were
goitig to win all four for sure,"
Wright said.
"aWe were so high," Korecky said.
"Yo wan to start every weeked
"We wanted to build on game
you'rin n tlgh the resto the
way.
After ndig thesriso such a
vweekend behind them particular-
ly yesterday's game and prepare
for their finals and their next Big
Ten series. against Illinois.
"When you leave the field, it's
history," Wright said.
Player AB R HB
Steidlct 3 1 10
Guetzlaff If 3 1 0 0
Roach ph 10o10o
Pattee pr 0 100 o
Hannahan 3b3 1 1 2
Ho hausc/lbS2 1 2 0
Appert 2b 3 0 0 0
Kennedy rf 3 1 12
LaRucib 2000 o
8auliu c 0 1
Totals 27T 7 8
E - Fox (6). LOB - Minnesota 5. Michigan 4. 26
Sokol (7): Komnan 112): Holthaus (7): Haring (6).
HR esko (2) Kolr (7): Hannahan (9): Kennedy
Wood L 13-11
Minnesota
ShupeW IS-li
Player AB RH BI
Tousa2b 3 100o
Sokol dh 4 23 3
Koman 3b 4 13 3
Wright lb 40o 1 0.:
Lollio rt 40o 10
Fox 210
Ghannamn c 2 1 1 0
LaRosa ss 2 0 0.0
Esperph 10 0,0
Jominy ss 0 07
Totals 29 6 9.8'
IP H R ER B8 50
6.0 5 4 2 4
0.1 2 2 2 0 0
6.0
0.1
6
1
4
2
4
2
1
1
S
0
Umpires - Curt Moreno(home,. Jay Lyons (first
base). Shawn Velek (second base). Ken Gracener
(third base).
At: Siebert Field
Attendance: n/a
start: 1p.m.
Tm:2:01 2 o e
MINESph/2b 4 MichKiganb 3 122
Hannahan 3b4 1 1 0 Wright lb 3 0 1--
/ain h 1010 Sklp/h
Welch ss 5 0 0 0 colemanc 2 0 00o
Kennedyrif 4 02 0 Fox ph 10o 1.0
Total 3349 aoiny ph/ss 2 0 1-0
E - LaRosa (10): Jomniny (8): Trzos (1). DP.- Mrv'
nesota 1. LOB - Michigan 8. Minnesota 1228
Kon-an (13): Fox 12): Steid (9): Hannahan (14). 1Ui
- Koman (8). SH - Pattee (1): Beaulieu (3): Hoithwus
(3)CS- Kennedy12).
Michigan
Loveqce
Trzos L 11-1)
IP H R ER BB SO a
6.0 7 3 1 3 2
2.2 2 1 0 3 2 .
Bobby Korecky combines heart and talent to lead Michigan's staff
By Benjamin Singer * Daily Sports Writer
Umpires - Jay Lyons (home). Shawn Velek (first base)
Ken Gracener(second base). Curt Moreno (third
A:SeberFil
Attendance: 1078
MINNESOTA 26, Michigan 8
I n Bobby Korecky's senior year at Saline high School, the
two-time all-stater went head-to-head with the undefeated
Drew Ilenson and Brighton High School. Korecky tossed
the 3-0 shutout, and even singled in what turned out to be the
game-winning run in the first inning off the future Michigan
quarterback.
That game was part of a dream season for Korecky, in which
Saline fought its way to the State Championship. It lost 2-1 to
~dland, who also knocked out Brighton in the semifinals.
~That's something you never forget," Korecky said. "Going
through a state tournament and going against somneone like:
IDrew Hienson that's something kids dream for.
"(Henson and I) hang out quite a bit. We always bring it up.
It's something you have to bring up. But all the respect to him.
He's a great athlete."
hlenson has since moved on, committing himself to a uif in
baseball as a prospect in the New York Yankees' organization.
Korecky is still working toward the dream of getting drafted, as
he continues his career as the ace of Michigan's stafF
GoING FOR NINE
*he bullpen for Michigan hasn't needed to bother showing up
for Friday games. Junior Bobby Korecky has been his own mid-
dle reliever, set-up man and closer.
When the staff's ace goes out to the mound each Friday to
start the weekend series against a Big Ten opponent, he usually
goes for nine. Korecky has pitched a conference-leading six-
consecutive complete games. including all four of his outing~s in
lBig Ten play.
B~y staying around the plate. Korecky (5-2, 2:13 [RA) can
keep his pitch count down. With quick innings, pitching for the
, le afternoon ceases to be too tall a task.
"When you're (throwing strikes) and you're getting guys
utwith on rtopitches. the infield making~ greapay,
it's very easy," Korecky said.
"Before you know it. it's the fourth inning and you've
only thrown about 40 pitches."
Michigan coach Geoff Zahn doesn't usually plan on
"He's funny because I'll ask him in the seventh 'How are you
holding up?' and he'll give me a funny look like. 'Are you kid-
ding me? I'm not coming out, " Zahn said. "lHe's very similar
to a pitcher I had at Pepperdine who's now pitching in the
majors, Randy Wolf (of the Philadelphia Philhies), as fijr as his
competitiveness and his desire to win, lie has that refuse to lose
mentality."
Refuse to lose and refuse to exit the game. Korecky is a little
possessive about his starts. lie is willing to give way to the
bullpen if he has to. but he likes to stick around to the end.
"Once you start a game. you get into that mental frame that
you can get everybody out." Korecky said. "It's your game
wkhen you star-t it and you want to go as long as you can."
CiiANGING PITChlES
I very onc has 1h igh light ed di fierent reasons for Korecky' s
success. Zahn is. impressed with his intensity on the mound.
Pitching~ coach Steve Foster- cites his work ethic during the
week as he studies the history of the hitters. Freshman catcher
Jake Fox talks about the effectiveness of his pitches, the likes
of which he hadn't seen in high school and doesn't see too
much of in college.
But it took a little maturing for Korecky at the next level
befo-e he hit his stride.
"His freshman year- he'd get into jams and he would say I'm
just going to blow it by you' because that's what he did in high
school," Zahn said. "I e'd end up leaving balls right over the
middle of the plate. lie was really just a power pitcher."
01nce Korecky leamned to mix up his pitch selection a little
andi keep hitters off balance, he started to turn into the formida-
ble pitcher he's proven to be this year. In Big Ten play last sea-
son, he pitched to a 1 .95 [RA and completed four of his five
conference stai-ts. as he led the Wolverines with a total of'
-five at the season's end.
"Coach Zahn worked with me so hard on that. I need to
be throwing in the right location and then the job will
gzet done." Korecky said. "That's one thing~ I can't talk
about enough is it's not how hard you throw. (Sopho-
Minnesota
Player AS R H 81 Player
Steidl f 5 2 24 Tos
Gueaf2bIf 5 0 1 1 Soko
Hannanny r 4 6 4 2 2 Kobra
Wolthasb 4 1 3 4 Wargh
Hearngdh 5 2 1 0 uef
Daitc- p/b1 0 1 3 uk
Totals 44 262122s Totals
Mlchiga
A R H Si
s 1000oi
4 s/ 1 12
4a ss/ 5 4 1
E-Komnan (9): Appert (5). L08- Michigan 12. Mmn-
nesota 11 28-Touso (3): Komnan I l4): Steid (10):
Kennedy (9): Welch (Si. HR - Fox (2): Hannahan 2
(111: Holthaus (31 Sf1- Howard (2): P'attee (21.58-
Tousa (91: Hannahan Ill): Kennedy (9). - -
iP H R ER 88 50
MichIgan
Hill L (2-3)1
La bert
Mccloskey
LaRosa
Minnesota
Krogman W
Mecauley
Amnidon
2.2
1.1
0.1
22
1.0
5
5
5
3
8
4
7
3
3
4
7
3
5
1
3
0
2
2
2
1
1
4
0
2
1
4
2
2
14-0) 5.2 11 7
2.1 2 0
1.0 1 1
Umpires - shawn velek (home).;Ken Gracener.
(first base), Curt Moreno (second base(, Jay
Lyons (third base).
Ate dane:379
start: 1 p.m.
lime:3:32
BIG TEN STANDINGS
JEFF HURV'lTZ/Dail
Michigan doesn't often need to dip into the bullpen when Bobby
Korecky takes the mound.
drafted how high I don't know." he said. "My height is always
on ;coT iniet w-n ont there :rnd do the hest I can. That's the
C
Team
Purdue
Ohio State
Minnesota
Penn State
onference
W L
11 3
9 3
11 4
8 6
Overall
W L
19 15
2-78
23. 14
18 21