The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 5, 2004 - 5B Line of the week Eric Rose Rightfielder Sunday vs. Minnesota (Game 2) H-AB R RBI SB 5-for-5 2 1 1 Notable Quotable "It's huge to get guys out there in the elements, seeing the ball in the sun" - Michigan coach Rich Maloney Players of the Series Matt Fornasiere (Minnesota) Fornasiere put up a hit in each game for the Gophers. In Sunday's first game, He went 2-for-3 with a home run in the winning effort. Paul Hammond (Michigan) Hammond was dominant in both wins last weekend, striking out five in eight innings of work. He got the win in the series cap- per, giving up a lone earned run. FRIDAY'S GAME Minnesota Golden Gophers 3 WP: Andy Peters (0-1) Michigan Wolverines 4 !P: Andrew Hess (2-1) SATURDAY'S GAME Minnesota Golden Gophers 6 WP: Andy Peters (0-2) Michigan Wolverines 5 LP: Dan lentz (0-1) YESTERDAY, GAME 1 Minnesota Golden Gophers 3 WP: Josh Krogman (1-0) Michigan Wolverines 2 LP: Derek Feldkamp (2-3) YESTERDAY, GAME 2 -M Minnesota Golden Gophers 10 LP: Andy Peters (0-2) Michigan Wolverines 12 WP: Paul Hammond (1-0) Rose blooms at The Fish INSIDE THE NUMBERS YESTERDAY, GAME 2 Michigan 12, Minnesota 10 By Gabe Edelson Daily Sports Writer Eric Rose didn't play like a freshman yesterday against Minnesota. The Michigan centerfielder went 5-for-5 in the con- test to raise his season batting average to a stellar .425. In the weekend's four games, Rose went 9-for-I5 (.600). In the bottom of the 12th inning of Friday's 4-3 Michi- gan victory, he also ignited the game-winning rally with a single. Junior rightfielder Matt Butler's subsequent base hit drove Rose home for the decisive run. Nobody is more proud of what this young player has been able to accomplish so early on than his coach, Rich Maloney. "Eric has a chance to be a great player," Maloney said after the conclusion of Sunday's action. "He uses his speed, he puts the ball in play, he can drag bunt. He's just fun to watch." Rose is not known for his power. A self-described "slap hitter," he has just seven RBIs and no home runs in the 13 games he has played. Though an 0-for-2 perform- ance in the weekend's third game ended his seven-game hitting streak, Rose - who recorded his first career hit in just his second at-bat in a Michigan uniform - was ecstatic after his perfect showing from the batter's box in the final game of the series. "It feels tremendous," Rose said of going 5-for-5. "It's huge for my self-confidence, and also the team's. (The other players) can put trust in me now and know that I'm going to do my best for them." Maloney views Rose as a vital part of his squad's core, the type of player this improving program can build around. And the coach also hopes Rose's early success will only motivate the freshman to try harderr and achieve even greater goals. "He's one of the cornerstones of the team," Maloney said. "He's gaining tremendous confidence, but he's always been a confident kid, so it's natural for him. I'm. real happy for him to have this success, because once ' they experience it, they want it more." This is not to say that everything has come easy for Rose. The centerfielder believes an off-season swing readjustment was instrumental in his success at the plate. The changes were intended to improve his con-4 tact hitting. "Coach changed a lot of stuff on my swing," Rose said. "Almost everything, to tell you the truth."° Rose's emergence has also been facilitated by his older teammates. The assistance he has received from other players has been instrumental to his development both on and off the field. "The kids help me out a lot," Rose said. "They givea me helpful hints here and there, and it's a comforting factor to have those kids there to help you through tough times." 1 K Rose knows that the tough times will become less fre- quent with more experience. ' For now, though, this rookie sensation is thrilled with his situation. TONY DING/Daily "I'm very happy at my position right now," Rose Freshman centerfielder Eric Rose, left, went 5-for-5 in yesterday's 12-10 win over said. "I'm just taking it day by day." Minnesota. Rose is currently batting .426 for the season. etzmoves to Blue mound' m nesota (12.10) Player AB R H BI Fornasieress 5 1 1 0 Steidl cf 5 1 1 0 Meel1b 3 21 1 Eldero 3122 Dick c 1 1 0 0 CarlsonH 1 0 0 0 Hunter dh 3 1 1 1 Leseman If 4 1 0 1 Hrncirik 3b 4 1 3 3 Kommerstad rf 3 0 1 2 Sanders rf 1 0 0 0 MacLean2b 4 1 1 0 Lobergp 0 0 0 0 Peters p 0 0 0 0 Gaub p 0 00 0 Total 37 10110 Mkhltgmn(11-11) Player AS R H Bi Getz2b 5 2 2 2 Butler If 6 1 3 3 Bohml1b 4 21 1 Scheidt 3b 4 1 1 1 Kunkel c 4 0 1 2 Burhans rf 5 0 1 1 Goldslirg ss 4 2 1 0 Roberts dh 2 0 0 0 Roblin dh 2 2 1 0 Rose cf 5 2 5 1 Penn p 0 00 0 Hess p 0000 Hammondp 0 00 0 Total 4112161 LOB - Minnesota 8; Michi gan 11; E - Minnesota 3: Steidl n 2Kommerstad (1); Lober (1, Michigan 2: Bohm (1); Rose (2). HR - None. DIP-Minnesota 0; Michigan 1. 2B- Minnesota 1: Kommerstad(7 Michigan 3: Buter (6); Kunkel (3); Goldshmeding (61. HBP - Minnesota 1: MacLean, Michigan: Kunkel. SB- Min- nesota 2: Fordnasiere (6); Hrmcirik (2), Michigan 1: Rose (4). CS.- Minnesota: Hrncirik (3) H Minnesota 510 202 000 10 11 3 Michigan 001 434 OOX 12 16 2 iP H R ERBB SO Minnesota Loberg 4.0 10 7 6 2 3 Peteres (L, 0-2) 1.2 4 4 3 1 2 Gaub 2.1 2 11 2 4 Michigan Penn 3.1 Hammond (W, 1-0) 4.0 7 8 8 2 0 0 2 2 1 3 2 2 I 1 1 Umpires- HP: Perry Costello 1B: James Jackson 38: Jon Garlits At-The Fish Attendance -237 Time -3:25 YESTERDAY, GAME 1 Minnesota 3, Michigan 2 m'nnesota (12-9)1 Player AB R H Bl1 Fornasiere ss 3 1 2 1 Steidl cf 2 1 1 1 Mee 1b 3 0 1 1 Hunter dh 3 0 0 0' Carlson dh 1 0 0 01 Elder c 3 01 01 Leseman If 2 0 1 01 Hrncirik 3b 3 0 1 01 Kommerstad 3b 3 0 1 0 MacLean 2b 3 1 2 01 Krogman p 0 0 0 01 DeVriesp 0 00 0 Total 25 39 3 Minin(1411) Player AB R H BI Getz 2b 2 1 0 1 Butler lf 3 0 2 1 Bohm 1b 3 0 0 0 Scheidt 3b 3 0 0 0 Kunkel c 2 0 0 0 Roberts dh 3 0 0 0 GD~lshrne g ss 3 1 1 0 Roblin rf 1 0 1 0 Rudden ph 1 0 0 0 Rose cf 2 0 0 0 Feldkamp 0 0 0 0 Husainp 0 00 0 Total 23 24 2 By Ryan Sosin and Matt Venegoni Daily Sports Writers It was a move from the high school playbook. Michigan coach Rich Maloney popped up from the dugout in the 11th inning and head- ed toward the mound at The Fish. Freshman Dan Lentz stood on the mound, awaiting his ed by the Wolverine infield. Maloney knew it was time to replace his reliever. But unlike his nor- mal routine of turn- ing toward the third-base bullpen fate, surround- © 0 SG Minnesota's Mike Mee faced Getz in his pitching debut, and the one- pitch at-bat ended the inning on a grounder to first base. The Chicago White Sox selected Getz as a shortstop in the sixth round of the 2001 draft. While he may not join in on the new trend of trying to make the Majors as a pitcher and position player, Getz could be called upon to take the mound for the Wolverines ad~ain this year. "He's been a guy we've been keeping secret this year a little bit," Maloney said. "He only got one out, but that's all we asked, and (the pitch) was a strike." WEATHER MAYHEM: It may be base- ball season, but the weather in Ann Arbor does not show it all the time. This past week was the first time this season that the Michigan baseball team could practice out- side all week. "The new turf (at The Fish) was laid down in November, so we did- n't want to mess up the field prac- ticing," Maloney said. But with the weather cooperating Michigan was finally able to prac- tice in conditions more like a game setting. "It's huge for us to get guys out there in the elements, seeing the ball in the sun and seeing the ball off the bat," Maloney said. "We should play better as the practice outside comes." While the weather was nice all week and for the first two games of the series against Minnesota, the third game in the series was a differ- ent story. The sun quickly vanished and soon after the fans were scurry- ing to under the overhang of The Fish. The game continued in the driving wind and rain, but was' called in the top of the fifth due to darkness. "The weather was rough to play in Saturday and Sunday for everyone, including the umpires," Maloney said. Saturday's second game was fin- ished yesterday before the sched- uled game. But the teams were not even sure if they were going to play. A few quick calls resolved the situa- tion. "We called Western Michigan and Michigan State and they were play- ing, so we said, 'Let's play,' " Mal- oney said. NoTEs: Eric Rose's 5-for-5 day was the first for a Wolverine since Jason Alcaraz pulled off the feat against Penn State in 1999. ... Matt Butler extended his current hitting streak with a single in the third inning Sunday. He went 3-for-6 on the day ... Kyle Bohm hit the only home run for the Wolverines on the weekend. The longball, Friday, was his second on the season ... Pitcher Paul Ham- mond, returning from elbow surgery, earned his first career win yester- day. Minnesota Michigan Minnesota ro man (W, 1-1) DeVis Michigan Feldkamp (L, 2-3) Husain 4.0 3 2 3.0 1 0 230 00 4 4.2 7 3 3 1 4 2.1 2 0 0 2 2 LOB - Minnesota 7; Mich- gan 5. E- Minnesota 0, Michigan 2: Getz (1); Kunkel F.1). DP -Minnesota 1;' Michigan 3 HR -Michigan: ronasiere (2). DP -None. HBP - Minnesota: None Michigan: Roblin. SB - Minnesota 3: Fronasiere(5); Steid[(2); Leseman (5), Michigan 1: Getz (8). CS - None. R H E 200 010 0 39 0H 110 000 Q 2 4 2 IP H R ER BB SO Umpires - HP: Jon Garlits, 1: Perry Costello, 38: James Jackson At -The Fish Attendance- unannouncedTime - 2:14 Game Notes- Game suspended Saturday due to dark- ness in top of 5th inning; Completed Sunday at 1 p.m. BIG TEN STANDINGS Conference Overall for a replacement, Maloney looked across the huddle and called for sophomore second baseman Chris Getz. "(Getz) was a very good pitcher in high school," Maloney said. "He can throw 90 (miles per hour)." Getz, usually slotted in at the leadoff spot, is hitting .277. The move from the infield to the mound is nothing new for Getz, who holds the Grosse Pointe South High School career record for saves. In the 2001 Michigan High School Athletic Association state champi- onships, Getz was called from his spot at shortstop by coach Dan Griesbaum to close out the game against Grand Ledge. Team W Michigan State 4 Ohio State 3 Michigan 2 Indiana 2 Penn State 2 Northwestern 2 Minnesota 2 Illinois 1 Iowa 0 L 0 .1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 W 13 10 11 18 12 11 12 7 6 L 10 11 11 9 11 12 10 13 16 T UIN JIU/LIIIy Sophomore second baseman Chris Getz takes off after making contact with the ball during play yesterday against Minnesota. Getz also took the hill as a pitcher. Friday's results: NORTHWESTERN 2, Indiana 0 MICHIGAN STATE 1, Iowa 0 MICHIGAN 4, Minnesota 3(12 Inn.) Purdue 7, PENN STATE 3 OHIO STATE 5, Illinois 1 Saturday's results: MICHIGAN STATE 5, Iowa 4 Minnesota 6, MICHIGAN 5 (11 Inn.) PENN STATE 7, Purdue 3 NORTHWESTERN 12, Indiana 10 MICHIGAN STATE 6, Iowa 3 Yesterday's results: Minnesota 4, MICHIGAN 3 OHIO STATE 5, Illinois 3 Illinois 12, OHIO STATE 4 Indiana 3, NORTHWESTERN 1 MICHIGAN STATE 12, Iowa 1 MICHIGAN 12, Minnesota 10 Purdue 18, PENN STATE 2 SCOUTING REPORT EASTERN CH GAN WEDNESDAY Eastern Michigan rolls into Ann Arbor riding a 10-game winning streak, hot off a pair of victories over Oakland. Ryan Ford leads the charge for the Eagles. He pitched seven innings last weekend, striking out eight. Ford and Brian Bixler contributed a pair of home runs a piece in a 23-9 win on Saturday. The Wolverines have tradi- tionally dominated Eastern Michigan, owning a 98-48-2 record. The single game is the first of three between the teams, who meet for a double- header on May 5. NOWA NEXT WEEKEND Uinhidnn Wmill In+n r t mnnrtha WILLA IRACOAS/Uaiy Members of the Michigan baseball team observe weekend action at Ray Fisher Stadium. Two games in the four-game set went to extra innings. A A .f U - ___ (rraat ink in thic xxrwat}tar"