5B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 8, 2002
I
YESTERDAY'S GAME
Michigan 4
Minnesota 3
SATURDAY GAME 2
lMichigan 2
E Minnesota 4
SATURDAY GAME 1
M Michigan 1
01 .' Minnesota 3
FRIDAY'S GAME
Michigan 0
Minnesota 10
Metro stop: M' nine
avoid series sweep
By Charles Paradis
Daily Sports Writer
At 5-foot-6 and batting last in the
order, Michigan freshman Matt But-
ler does not usually cause much fear
when he enters the batter's box. But
yesterday Butler proved just how
fearsome he could be. -
After losing to Minnesota once on
Friday and twice on Saturday, Michi-
gan was in danger of getting swept
this weekend. In danger, that is, until
Butler stepped up to the plate in the
top of the ninth inning on Sunday.
The diminutive outfielder was
already 3-for-3 on the day with a
triple and two doubles when he stood
at home plate representing the go-
ahead run.
In the top of the ninth, both Bran-
don Jominy and Butler reached base
on singles. Right fielder Gino Lollio
strike out, but Jominy and Butler
advanced on a double steal.
With runners in scoring position,
interim head coach Chris Harrison
called on his right-handed catcher
Jason Wuerfel to pinch hit for the
left-handed Mike Sokol. The substi-
tution worked as Wuerfel punched a
single into left field to score both
runners and take a 4-3 lead.
"It's what you dream of as a kid,"
Wuerfel said of his game winning
single.
Michigan then fended off the Min-
nesota rally in the bottom of the
ninth to beat the Gophers.
Butler played excellent baseball
all around. Not only was he perfect
from the plate, but he also made a
spectacular diving catch in the out-
field. Yesterday's performance by
Butler exhibited all the qualities the
Michigan baseball team was looking
for: Strong hitting, fielding and the
ability to come through under pres-
sure.
"Matt had a great game for us
today," Harrison said. "He came up
with some clutch hits, he made a real
great play in right center and played
some real good defense."
The Wolverines fell behind early
in the first three games of the week-
end, and yesterday was no different
as Minnesota jumped out to an early
lead. With two outs, Junior Luke
Appert stepped up to bat for Min-
nesota and rocketed a first-inning
home run for the second time in as
many games.
Senior pitcher Jeff Trzos remained
calm despite giving up the long ball.
The left-handed hurler kept his com-
YESTERDAY'S GAME
Michigan 4, Minnesota 3
Michgan (44 Big Ten, 818 46) tues (53,12315)
Player AB R H I Player AB R H BI
Lollio rf 4 0 2 1 Steidl dh 4 0 1 0
Soko dh 3 00 0Pattee3b 4 00 0
Wuerfel ph 1 0 1 2 Appert 2b 4 1 2 1
Koman sss 2 0 Kennedyrf 3 100
Robertslif 5 0 0 0Howard If 3 0 1 1
Wright 1b 4 0 0 0 Elder 1b 3 0 0 0
Coleman c 2 0 0 0 Roachl1b 1 0 0 0
Fox c 2 0 0 0 Guetzlaff cf 4 1 1 0
Rudden 2b 3 0 1 0 Welch ss 3 0 0 0
Korecky ph 0 00 OBeaulieu c 2 0 1 1
Rutkowski pr 0 0 0 0 Dick ph 1 0 0 0
Cantanessa 0 0 0 0 Gagner p 0 0 0 0
Jorny 3b 4 2 1 1 McCauley p 0 00 0
Butler cf 42 0 Theisp 0 0 00
Collins p 0 0 0 0 Beresford p 0 0 0 0
Total 3 410 4 Total 32 3 6 3
LOB -Minnesota 6; Michigan 9. 2B- Minnesota 3:
Appert (8), Howard (11), Beaulieu (3); Michigan 2:
Butler 2 (2), BB - Minnesota 3: Kennedy, Howard,
Welch; Michigan 4: Koman 3, Sokol. SB- Minnesota
2: Kennedy (18), Howard (11); Michigan 3: Rudden
(2), Butler (1), Jominy (6). CS- Michigan 2: Koman
(4), Rudden (1).
R H E
Michigan 010 000 102 4 10 1
Minnesota 200 100 000 3 6 0
IP H R ER BB SO
Minnesota
Gagner 5 6 1 1 3 8
McCauley 1.1 2 1 1 0 0
Theis L(1-1) 2.1 2 2 2 1 2
Beresford 0.1 0 0 0 1 0
Michigan
Trzos 7 6 3 3 2 3
Collins W (2-0) 2 0 0 0 1 2
Umpires- HP: Curt Moreno, 1B: Sean Valleck, 2B: Bill
Lopina, 38: Ken Gracener
At- Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
Attendance - 523 Tme -2:52
SATURDAY GAME 2
Michigan 2, Minnesota 4
Michigan (44 BgTen, 8:6) M innuota (53,13.1.5)
Player AB R H Bi Player AB R H BI
Catanessa2b3 0 0 0 Steidicf 2 0 1 0
Korecky ph 1 0 0 0 Welch ss 3 0 1 0
Sokol dh 3 0 1 0Appert 2b 3 1 1 1
Koman ss 2 00 O0 Kennedyrf 3 010
Roberts if 4 0 0 0 Howard 3 1 1 0
Lollio rf 3 1 3 0 Buckin If 2 0 0 0
Wrightib 3 1 1 0 Pattee 3b 3 1 1 1
Fox c 3 00 1iRoach ib 3121
Jominy 3b 3 0 0 0Dick dh 2 00 0
Butler cf 3 0 1 0 Elder ph 1 0 0 0
Leveque p 0 0 0 0 Beaulieu c 3 0 1 1
Brauer p 0 000 Krogman p 0 0 0 0
Total 28 26 61Total 26 4 9 4
E - Minnesota 2: Welch (11), Pattee (14) DP - Min-
nesota LOB-Michigan 8; Minnesota 5. 28- Min-
nesota 2: Pattee (6), Roach (5), HR -Minnesota:
Appert (5) 98- Michigan 2: Sokol, Koman; Minneso-
ta: Steidl. SB- Minnesota: Steidl (14), Beaulieu (3).
CS- Minnesota: Kennedy (1).
R H E
Michigan 000 002 0 2 6 0
Minnesota 100 300 x 4 9 2
iP H R ER BB SO
Michigan
Leveque L(1-1) 3.1 7 4 4 1 2
Brauer 2.2 2 0 0 0 3
Minnesota
Krogman W (3-3) 7.0 6 2 1 2 5
Umpires - HP: Ken Gracener, 1B: Curt Moreno, 28:
Sean Velleck, 38: Bill Lopina.
At - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
Attendance -462 Time-1:58
SATURDAY GAME 1
Michigan 1, Minnesota 3
Michigan second basemah Jordan Cantalamessa records a put out against a sliding Jason Kennedy In Sunday's 4-3 win.
posure and prevented Minnesota
from getting too far ahead. Although
Trzos allowed early runs, his recov-
ery let Michigan get back in the
game and was a large part of the
Wolverines' win.
"The good thing was (Trzos) kept
battling," Harrison said. "He gets a
lot of credit for this win."
Mental toughness was not only
important for Trzos, but for the rest
of the Wolverines as well. According
to Harrison, it was important that the
team not get down mentallygafter the
three losses earlier in the weekend.
He did not want to give up a game
because of a mental let down.
"I told them after the second game
on Saturday," Harrison said. "The
Big Ten is tough, the way that you
do well in it is to win like we did
today. After you lose three games,
you stay tough mentally and come
away with a win."
Hill no longer just a thrower'
By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Writer
It's easy to tell when junior Rich Hill is coming to
the mound. As soon as he leaves -the dugout, scouts
reach for their radar guns.
The left-hander has the size - 6-foot-5 -'and a 90
mile-per-hour fastball that scouts drool over. As a
result, he was drafted in the sev-_
enth round by the Anaheim Angels BASEBALL
in the 2001 Major League First-
Year Player Draft, and is Michi- Notebook
gan's active career strikeout leader
(173).
Like he did in his first two seasons, Hill leads the
team in strikeouts (48), with almost twice as many as
any other Wolverine. He has baffled opposing batters
and managers even more as of late. In Saturday's 3-1
loss to Minnesota, Hill pitched a complete game,
allowing just five hits and two earned runs while strik-
ing out eight.
Hill lowered his ERA to 3.86, but his record dropped
to 1-3 because he received little offensive support. Four
weeks ago, Hill had 15 strikeouts and allowed just two
runs - one earned and one off of his error - against
Texas-San Antonio. But Michigan still lost, 3-2, in
extra innings after Hill left the game. Hill also thinks
his stats have been skewed from performances like he
had in an 11-4 loss to Oral Roberts on March 23.
"I pitched six good innings, but I gave up a home run
- that happens - and there were two guys on base,"
Hill said. "That gets the ERA up."
Just like his ERA and record, Hill's controltisn't per-
fect.
"Bobby (Korecky) hits the spots a lot better than I
do," Hill said last weekend after the Iowa series. "I
might throw a fastball right down the middle and try
and get them to swing. That is what I was doing today,
and it looked pretty good.
"Bob and I, we both throw hard. It seems to me that
Iowa's bats were late the whole day. They just couldn't
catch up to anything."
Minnesota's coach John Anderson was so impressed
that he gave Hill one of the greatest compliments a
pitcher can receive.
"He told Coach Harrison that I am finally a pitcher,
instead of just a thrower," Hill said.
As Anderson discovered, Hill has made a lot of
progress since the teams met a year ago. His fastball
has gained even more velocity and has been clocked at
up to 93 miles per hour. More importantly, he has more
control over the pitch, and he has better placement.
Hill has made even more progress with his changeup
and curveball. Hill said his curve used to "loop" but is
now much sharper when it breaks.
He believes the key to his off-speed pitch is that it
confuses hitters, who have to key on his fastball that
Michigan pitching leaders
(Through April 7)
Player ERA W-L IP H BB SO R ER
1. Joe Young 0.00 0-0 3.1 5 1 4 1 0
2. Matt Collins 2.38 2-0 11.1 7 4 9 7 3
3. Paul Hammond 3.00 0-0 6.0 11 2 7 2 2,
4. Rich HIll 3.86 1-3 35.0 32 22 48 22 15
5. Bobby Korecky 4.95 2-3 43.2 45 13 25 36 24
6. Jeff Trzos 5.18 1-3 35.0 29 11 14 28 14
7. Phil Tognetti 6.35. 0-2 5.2 11 5 5 5 4
8. Chad Garson 6.43 0-0 7.0 12 2 5 5 5
9. Tim Leveque 6.75 1-1 20.0 27 12 14 15 15
10. Jim Brauer 6.92 1-3 26.0 33 10 20 26 20
Michigan batting leaders
(Through April 7)
Player AVG. AB R H HR RBI BB SO
1. Brock Koman .360 89 17 32 2 11 12 7
2. Jason Wuerfel .318 22 2 7 0 6 0 5
3. Gino Lollio .310 76 9 26 2 13 9 14
4. Brandon Roberts .303 76 11 23 3 16 9 18
5. Mike Sokol .302 86 14 26 1 13 13 23
6. Nate Wright .279 61 7 17 1 7 1 14
7. Matt Butler .273 22 2 6 0 0 4 3
8. Jake Fox .245 49 9 12 1 2 6 16
9. Brandon Jominy .245 49 9 12 0 6 3 10
10. Bobby Korecky .233 30 5 7 0 0 1 3
Freshman pitcher
g io d
Mlchigan(44 DigTen, 8-16)
Piaer ABH8Bi
Caarassa2b B 0 0g1
Koman ss 3 02 0
Roberts If 3 0 1 0
Lolliorf 2 000
Wright b 3 010
Coleman c 1 0 0 0
Fox ph/c 3 1 10
Jominy 3b 2 0 0 0
Butler cf 1 xO 1 0
Korecky ph 1 0 0 0
Rutkowski cf 0 0 0 0
Hill p 0 0 0 0
Total 25 1 7 1
Minnesota(53,13-15)
Player ABR H B
Steidl cf 2 11 0
Pattee 3b 2 1 0 0
Appert 2b 3 1 1 0
Kennedyrf 2 0 1 3
Howard If 2 0 0 0
Elder 1b 3 0 2 0
Hencirik pr 0 0 0 0
Roach1b 0 0 0
Gerkin dh 2 0 0 0
Guetaff ph/dh0 0 0 0
Welch ss 3 0 0 0
Beaulieu c 2 0 0 0
Woodrowp 0 000
Theis p 00 00
Total 213 53
L
-.1
LOB- Minnesota 5; Michigan 8.2B- Minnesota:
Kennedy (5); Michigan 2: Koman (5); :B- Minnesota
2: Howard 1, Guetzlaff 1; Michigan 2: Koman 1, Lol-.
lo 1. SB-Minnesota 3: Steidl (11), Pattee (4), Elder
(2). CS- Minnesota 2; Steidl (3), Howard (3)
Minnesota 000 100 0 1 7 1
Michigan 200 001 x 3 5 0
BERNDAN O'DONNELL/Daily
Junior left-hander Rich Hill pitched a complete game in the
first contest of Saturday's doubleheader but took a 3-1 loss.
scouts love. Hill thinks that was the case when he
struck out Minnesota's best hitter, Jason Kennedy, on
Saturday. Hill has grown quite fond of his new weapon
- the slow ball.
"I love that pitch," Hill said with a laugh.
RARE MISCUES: Multiple errors and unearned runs are
not new to Michigan baseball, but they are to second
baseman Jordan Cantalamessa.
Prior to the weekend series, the Wolverines already
had 44 errors this season - 14 more than their oppo-
nents. They even allowed 13 unearned runs in the first
inning of a 21-2 loss to San Diego. But, going into Fri-
day's game with Minnesota, Cantalamessa had a .985
fielding percentage and just one error.
His success at second base was even more impressive
considering he hasn't played the position for a year; he
was moved to the outfield last year to accommodate
former Wolverine captain Scott Tousa.
Cantalamessa and his numbers took a crash in the
third inning of Friday's game. First, he failed to turn a
double play that led to one unearned run.
His second error and the second unearned run of the
inning came when he dropped a pop fly. Cantalamessa
actually caught the ball, which almost touched the top
of the Metrodome, but it fell out of his glove when he
crashed to the Astroturf.
Cantalamessa wasn't the only Wolverine who had
trouble in the field Friday. Pitcher Bobby Korecky
committed a fielding error in the third inning. First
baseman Nate Wright committed his first error of the
season in the fifth inning, leading to four more
unearned runs.
Minnesota
Woodrow W (3-3)
Theis
Michigan
Hill L (1-3)
IP H R ER BB SO
6.0 7 1 1 2 6
1.0 0 0 0 0 0
6.0 5 3 2 2 8
The Fish vs. The Dome
Heading into this weekend at the Metrodome,
the Wolverines were excited to get a chance to
play in a big-league ballpark.
After playing there, though, some Michigan k°y
players had some second thoughts.Q
"I thought it was really ugly," freshman Matt
Collins said yesterday.w
By Dan Rosen
Daily Sports Writer
Left-handed reliever Paul Ham-
mond didn't see much action for
Michigan yesterday. In fact, the
freshman didn't take the mound at
all on the trip to Minnesota this
weekend.
With the way that starters Rich
Hill, Bobby Korecky and Jeff Trzos
have been throwing of late - the
three gave up just six earned runs in
20 innings pitched against the Gold-
en Gophers - the Wolverines have
not had too much of a chance to test
their pitching depth.
But Michigan interim coach
Chris Harrison was especially
impressed with the way Hammond
threw against Detroit last Wednes-
day, and the freshman should begin
to see more action as the Big Ten
season heats up.
"Matt (Collins) and Paul are both
throwing well for us," Harrison
said.
He said that he plans on using
Hammond as the team's primary
closer for the Big Ten season. The
left-hander is taking nothing for
granted, though. He expects to split
time in the finishing role with fellow
newcomer Collins, a right-hander
from Bloomfield Village, who
earned the win Sunday in relief of
Trzos. Hammond said that the pitch-
er whose chosen to close will proba-
bly depend on the situation, with
Hammond relieving righthanders
One of the things about Ham-
mond that has impressed Harrison
is his pickoff move. Last Wednes-
day, Harrison gave Hammond the
start - the first of his career - to
make sure that he got to throw a
couple of innings before being
tb-c int Rm pn,_ in T at
has put in every day at practice.
"My pickoff move (was) terrible
until I got here," the Mason, Ohio
native said. "We work on pickoff
moves 20 minutes a day. We work
on a lot of different situations, dif-
ferent pickoff moves. (Mine) has
improved a lot since I came to
Michigan."
Catcher Jake Fox said that Ham-
mond is so successful picking guys
off because he takes advantage of
being a lefty. Southpaws have tradi-
tionally had an easier time keeping
runners close at first because they
have a prime view of the base and
don't have to turn their bodies too
mdch to throw over.
"He brings his leg up and reads
the runner, and if (the runner) takes
off, he just throws over," Fox said.
"It makes it easy on us as catchers
because we don't ever have to worry
about runners getting good jumps or
anything. He's great at that."
As a team, the Wolverines have
been successful picking runners off
so far this season. Korecky also
threw out two runners in his start
against Iowa last Saturday.
But Hammond's pickoff move is
not the only thing that has given
Harrison confidence in the young
freshman. The left-hander said that
his control, especially as of late, has
probably helped his cause as well.
"I've definitely been more pin-
point with my pitches than in the
past," Hammond said. "And my
changeup has been a lot better."
So far this season, Hammond has
given up just two earned runs in six
innings of action. His contributions,
along with those of Collins - who
has allowed just three earned runs
in 11.1 innings - could greatly
benefit a Michigan team that has
Umpires -HP: Bill Lopina, 1B: Ken Gracener, 28: Curt
Moreno, 38: Sean Velleck.
At-Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
"Time - 2.12
FRIDAY'S GAME
Michigan 0, Minnesota 10
Michigan (3.2 Big Ten,7414) Minnesota (11-14 Big Ten, 3.2)
Player AB R H 8I Piayer AB R H BI
Ca aressa2B4 00 0Steidcf 4 2 0 1
Sokol dh 4 0 1 0 Guetlaffph/cf 1 0 1 0
Koman ss 4 0 1 0Wechas 5 1 1 1
Roberts If 3 0 1 0OAppert 2b 3 1 1 1
Lollio rf 3 0 0 0 Kennedy rf 4 1 1 1
Wright lb 30 0 0 OHoward if 4 1 2 2
Coleman c 1 0 0 0Pattee 3b 4 1 1 1
Wuerfeiph/c1 0 0 0 Roach b 3 1 1 1
Jominy 3b 3 0 00 Elder ph/1b 1 00 0
Butlercf 1 0 0 0 Dick ph 2 1 0 0
Fox ph 1 0 00 Becker ph/dh 1 0 00
Rutkowski cf 1 0 0 0 Beaulieu c 3 1 1 1
Korecky p 0 0 0 OMolidrem p 0 0 0 0
Garson p 0 0 0 0
Totals 29 0 3 0OTotal 25 1 5 1
E- Cantalamessa 2(3); N. Wright(1); B. Korecky(3).
DP- Minnesota 1. LOB - Michigan 4; Minnesota 4.
2B- M. Sokol(6); B. Roberts(8); S Howard 2(10); B.
Pattee(5), D. Roach(4). HR - J. Kennedy(6). SB- A.
Coleman(1). CS- L. Appert(3).
Iowa 000 000 000 0 3 4
Michigan 003 040 03X 10 9 0
IP H R ER Be SO
Michigan
Bobby Korecky 7.0 4 7 0 2 3
Chad Garson 1.0 5 3 3 0 2
Minnesota
Craig Molldrem 9.0 3 0 0 1 5
Umpires - HP: Sean Valleck, 18: Bill Lopina, 28: Ken
Gracener, 38: Curt Moreno
At- Hubert H.HumphreyMetrodome, Minneapolis
Attendance- 634 Time-2:00
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Conference Overall
Team W
Indiana 6
Ohio St 6
Minnesota 5
Purdue 5
Michigan State 4
Michigan 4
Illinois 3
Northwestern 2
Penn State 2
Iowa 2
Friday's results:
Purdue 6, ILUNolS 2
INDIANA 10, Iowa 7
L
2
2
3
3
3
4
5
5
6
6
w
23
18
13
12
19
8
15
8
11
10
L
6
6
15
15
6
16
6
15
14
14
After comparing the
clear that he's right.
Category
Stadium name
Home team
Age
Capacity
Surface
team's home parks, it's
We have
The Fish
Michigan Baseball
79
4,000
Grass
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
David Terrell and the guy from Hello Faz Pizza agree:
There's nothing like a game at The Fish.
They have
Metrodome
Minnesota Twins
20
55,883
AstroTurf
Edge
The Fish
The Dome
The Fish
The Dome
The Fish
MINNESOTA 10, Michigan 0
NORTHWESTERN 6, Michigan State 3
Penn State 14, OHIO STATE 2
Saturday's results:
Purdue 5, ILLINOIS 2
ILLINOIS 5, Purdue 1
INDIANA 5, Iowa 1
INDIANA 6, Iowa 1
MINNESOTA 3, Michigan 2
MINNESOTA 4, Michigan 2
RA;-.r -C+- - N- ---rrcTrn.