eb SibiganNtilg SPORTS April 7, 2003 SECTIONB Fro A cold day at the Fish: 'M' ze, .s 11 nine loses 8-7 in extra innings By Jake Rosenwasser Daily Sports Writer The Michigan baseball team had to wait two extra days to see how it would stack up against the best of the Big Ten. The result: Michi- gan hung tough with Minnesota 1 iN for a while but could not get a CGN clutch hit to seal a victory. After games were cancelled on Friday and Saturday due to inclement weather, the Wolverines (3-3 Big Ten, 12- 12 overall) and the Golden Gophers (6-0, 16-10) finally got together for two seven-inning games at the Fish yesterday. Down 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two of the doubleheader, Michigan stormed back by stringing together four hits in a row and seven hits in eight at-bats. After three consecutive singles by the bottom of the lineup to load the bases, lead-off hitter Gino Lollio smacked a double down the third-base line, bringing home two runs. After a fielder's choice off the bat of Mike Sokol, Brock Koman singled to center field chasing Minnesota pitcher C.J. Woodrow from the game. Michigan took a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning. Minnesota did not wait long to get its runs back. With Ben Pattee on third and one out, Scott Welch hit a comebacker to reliever Drew Taylor, who threw to Koman at third to catch Pattee in a rundown. Koman chased Pattee down and dove to apply the tag, but when Koman hit the ground, the ball came loose and Pattee was ruled safe. "It was a critical mistake," Michigan coach Rich Maloney said. "We caught the guy off and had him, See BASEBALL, Page 5B OPPORTUNITIES LOST Over the past two seasons, Michigan softball has seen its share of cancellations due to bad weather. Over the weekend, Michigan's cancelled games against Iowa moved it from second to third in the Big Ten. Michigan State was able to get a win over the Hawkeyes yester- day, putting both teams at first place. Last season, the Wolverines were in a similar situation when games against Iowa and Illinois were cancelled, allowing Michi- gan no room for error in the conference. Photos by DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily Top: Michigan's Brock Koman (10) and Drew Taylor can only-watch as Minnesota's Matt Fomasiere escapes the tag after getting out of a . rundown in the secqndgam .eftraon Roberts (16) and Ni ddiecollide with the gropdafter bo going after a popup. Weather prevents softball from gaining ground By Megan Kolodgy Daily Sports Writer 2003 Season cancellations Date Opponent 2/26 Texas A&M 3/9 Troy State 3/9 Seminole Semifinal 4/4 Iowa 4/5 Iowa 2002 Season Date Opponent 4/26 Iowa 4/27 Illonois While April showers might bring May flowers, they have brought the Michigan softball team nothing but frustration and disappointment. So far this season, foul weather has kept the Wolverines from several games, including the playoff rounds of the Flori- da State Seminole Invitational in early March, a tournament in which Michigan had a shot at the championship. Over the weekend, the Wolverines once again got fired up for a big week- end matchup against Big Ten rival Iowa - a team that has consistently challenged the Wolverines for the top spot in the conference. But Mother Nature had other plans. On Friday, she decided to bring back March's chilly rain, and on Saturday, she even managed to conjure up a few snowflakes, reminding everyone of the February weather that they presumed to have passed. Friday's opener against Iowa was first set back an hour, and then moved to Sat- urday along with the second game of the series. But the weather did not improve for the doubleheader, and Michigan was once again left hanging with the games completely cancelled as opposed to rescheduled for later in the season. "We were pretty upset," senior co- captain Meghan Doe said. "These were big games, and we were ready for them. We really wanted to play, so when we heard that we weren't going to get to, we were disappointed." These cancellations are not only sig- nificant in that the Wolverines lost more valuable playing time. They also missed a game against a Big Ten team that could make the hunt for the Big Ten championship an even greater chal- lenge. Doe believes that Michigan needs to focus on its upcoming games, rather than concerning itself with rankings. "I'm not sure how (the cancellation of the Iowa games) will affect how we're doing in the Big Ten," she said. "We have to win the next four games, and that's what we're worried about right now. We'll have to see how the other teams did this weekend, but we're more concerned about how we play this week." Tomorrow should bring a double- header at home against Central Michi- gan, although weather reports indicate that today might bring more snow to Ann Arbor. Later in the week, the Wolverines travel to Madison for games Friday and Saturday against Wisconsin. With Michigan's erratic schedule, one might guess that the team's momentum would be hindered. But Doe has faith in the Wolverines' progress thus far. "I think that we'll be able to pick up momentum again for this week," Doe said. "We've had a few good practices this weekend, and we've been hitting pretty well, so it should be okay." Offensive line Blue's strongest unit 0nsrn By J. Brady McCollough Daily Sports Editor Nothing makes Michigan coach Lloyd Carr come out of his shell more than a chance to talk about his big uglies. "We're gonna have a line - a Michigan line," said Carr, with noted emphasis one the word "Michi- gan." So what exactly does it mean to "'' Last season's group gave up just 22 sacks in 13 games, compared to 30 in 2001, benefiting from a more mobile and experienced John Navarre behind center. The Michigan running game finished eighth in the Big Ten in yardage, but except for a mid-year slump against Purdue and Iowa, run- ning backs Chris Perry and B.J. Askew were able to find holes and move the chains. Carr already knows who will fill four out of five starting spots, barring any unforeseen circumstances: Sopho- more Adam Stenavich at left tackle, Baas at left guard, senior Dave Pearson at center and Pape at right tackle. Sophomore Matt Lentz, who alternat- ed with Dave Petruziello last season and is known as the strongest player on the Michigan roster, is battling with classmate Leo Henige for the starting nod at right guard in spring drills. "Both (Lentz and Henige) are going to be good players, but Leo Henige has really made some strides," Carr said. "Henige is a guy that's got excellent movement." Carr couldn't control his excitement when discussing Baas, who emerged WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? REALLY ... Crossing over Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards is known to thousands every Saturday in the fall as Michigan's go-to guy. What those fans in the Big House may not know is that Edwards has become an integral mem- ber of the men's track team during the winter and soon-to-be spring season. Consistently spectactular Senior Janessa Grieco has been a leader on and off the floor for the women's gymnastics team for her entire career - one that may not have happened if not for some playful, and destructive, fun with her grandfather. Page 4B Polo, goes 2-1, makes West Coast tip count 4 have a "Michigan line?" Judging by Carr's sudden burst of enthusiasm, it must be more than just five huge guys wearing maize and blue. "It's a strong, physical, powerful line," Carr said. "I like it. I like it. Now, I might not like them tomorrow. But I like them today." Falling out of Carr's favor should be tough for this group, though. Six Wolverines with significant playing experience return to the fold, including first-team All-Big Ten performers jun- ior David Baas and senior Tony Pape, making the 2003 line the most formi- By Melanie Kebler Daily Sports Writer For the Michigan water polo team, wins on the West Coast are the hardest kind to come by. West Coast teams, especially California teams, are among the top-ranked in the country and ben- efit from year-round sunshine. But this weekend, the Wolverines endured a tough trip to the Arizona State Desert Challenge and came home with a 2-1 record. Not bad for a team head coach Matt Anderson said. "Everybody was capable of beating everybody at this tournament." Michigan came out on top, though, with wins over No. 19 Arizona State on Saturday and No. 9 San Jose State yesterday. The win over San Jose State was the first time Michigan has beaten a top 10 team since it topped Califor- nia-San Diego back in 2001. Anderson said the two wins helped make the weekend one that exceeded his expec- tations.