8 - Friday, March 21, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com No h ts through five? o problem In home-opener at Fish, Michigan takes advantage of Oakland errors By JASON KOHLER Daily Sports Writer In the middle of the fifth inning of yesterday's home open- er at Ray Fisher Stadium, No. 25 Michi- gan had OAKLAND 4 yet to MICHIGAN 7] record a hit against Oakland. But the Wolverines still led, 2-1. Despite the hitless streak, Michigan capitalized on the Golden Grizzlies' errors in a 7-4 win. In the fifth inning, junior Kevin Cislo reached second after a throwing error, and later scored on a sacrifice fly. "That's part of baseball," Cislo said. "If they make an error, you have to score on that play." After five hitless innings, junior Adam Abraham's line drive double to center field in that inning finally broke the streak. Michigan coach Rich Malo- ney said "freebies" - his term for errors, walks and stolen bases - were key to his team's victory. The Grizzlies gave up 10 more freebies than the Wol- verines. In the second inning, senior Kevin VanBuskirk reached base and subsequently scored Mich- igan's first run of the afternoon after two errors by Oakland junior third baseman Jonathon Zalenski. The freebies proved criti- cal. Although 'the Wolverines scored seven runs, just three were earned, and they had just six hits. The Wolverine pitching staff was key to yesterday's victory, too. Freshman Travis Smith earned the win for Michigan (9- 6), becoming the first Wolverine to throw a pitch in the newly renovated Ray Fisher Stadium. Unfortunately for him, that first pitch was a ball. Smith struggled to adjust to the frigid Michigan weather. Yesterday was the first time this season the Wolverines played north of the Mason-Dixon line this season. Smith threw three more balls to walk his firstbatter on four pitches. "It's a little different throwing when it's 45 degrees," Smith said. "You got to do a lot more stuff to prepare yourself" The Austin, Texas native struggled throughout the first inning, giving up an early run. Oakland right fielder Dan Ryan hit an RBI single, driving in cen- ter fielder Justin Wilson, who reached base on Smith's lead off walk. But the first-inning run was the only one Smith allowed all day. He threw five innings and struck out six batters. "I just warmed up," Smith said. "I was pretty confident in my pitches, and my defense played pretty well." With Smith off the mound, the Grizzlies (2-10) made a late charge in the eighth inning. After a controversial call when Oakland's Wilson was called out after sliding around, but not touching, home plate, the Grizzlies earned three runs off freshman pitcher Tyler Bur- goon. But Burgoon came back and held Oakland scoreless in the ninth. In all of Michigan's losses, pitching has been a concern. But yesterday it was the bats that fal- tered. "We need to focus on getting better hits," Cislo said. "Not on pounding the ball or swing- ing too early, but on getting our pitches and just letting it rip." RODRIGO GAYA/[ Freshman Travis Smith delivers a pitch in yesterday's 7-4 victory over Oakland. He gave up just one earned run through five innings, but the Michigan hitters struggled to make solid contact. Their seven runs came on just six hits. ICE KY Blue aims for CCHA title amid distractions Running back injures finger in "freak" weightlifting accident 'M' to face Wildcats after tying them twice last month By MICHAEL EISENSTEIN Daily Sports Writer It's no surprise the Michigan hockey team has thrown around the word "focus" over and over again with all the distractions surrounding this weekend's CCHA playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. There's the "academy-award- style" ceremony. The national media attention. And of course, the conference- playoff championship on the line. "We're hungry," sophomore Chris Summers said. "We're defi- nitely hungry. We haven't won anything since our seniors were freshmen so this is going to be a big weekend, a chance for us to try and capitalize on something that people remember and is going to go up in our rink." The Wolverines have already added two banners to the Yost Ice Arena rafters this season. Whether it's been the Great Lakes Invitational or the CCHA regu- lar-season title, Michigan has col- lected titles by setting goals and then accomplishing them. NEXT ON THE PLATE: Winning Friday and hoisting a trophy in Detroit Saturday. Last night's CCHA award banquet was just a side spectacle for the players and coaches. "I see it as a distraction," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We're social, but you can't really relax. You have a big game Northern the next night (and) the other Michigan vs. team is sitting in Michigan the same build- ing."I Matchup: For Michigan, Michign that "other team" 12-13-3 isthebig-hitting, Michigan tight-checking, 20-4-4 shot-blocking When: Friday Northern Michi- 8:05 p.m. gan Wildcats Where: Joe (12-13-3 CCHA, LoarsArena 19-19-4 overall). TV' The last time TD: o Michigan (20-4- PSN Detroit 4, 29-5-4) faced the Wildcats, it came away with just two points after a pair of 3-3 ties. Michigan took a lead in both games, which came between a pair of matchups against power- houses Michigan State and Miami (Ohio). Each time, the Wolverines squandered the early advantage, letting the Wildcats sneak up on them. "That's not like our team," associate head coach Mel Pearson said. "Maybe at that point in the season we didn't know a lot about them or give them the credit they deserved. If anything, it's helped our team realize they're a good hockey club." Since then? "I think we're more focused now," Summers said. "Obviously these games have a little bit more value to them, so I think the team focus is much more intense." LINEUP ADJUSTMENTS: Still not feeling 100 percent at prac- tice this week after fracturing his fibula, freshman Matt Rust is likely out for the weekend. Fresh- man Carl Hagelin will once again replace him at center. ... Freshman Max Pacioretty is suspended for tonight's game after receiving a game disqualification for fighting during the second period against Nebraska-Omaha last Saturday. The first-liner will return to the lineup Saturday. PICKING UP THE HARDWARE: Not surprisingly, Michigan cleaned up at last night's CCHA awards banquet. Senior captain Kevin Porter took home the big- gest individual prize: Player of the Year. He is the third Wolverine to win the award. Brendan Morrison and David Oliver previously won the award. Pacioretty won Rookie of the Year honors. He led all fresh- men with 28 points in 25 CCHA games. Berenson was named the Coach of the Year for leading his young squad to the conference regular- season crown and the nation's No. 1 ranking. Berenson last won the award in 1994. Brown might also be a candidate for quarterback position By COURTNEY RATKOWIAK Daily Sports Editor The Michigan football team's first practice in pads, held yes- terday, went more than 30 min- utes longer than scheduled. And like Saturday's first spring practice, it showed that transi- tion almost always starts with confusion. "I always NOTEBOOK tell them, if you don't know where you're going, run in place," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. "There were quite a bit of the guys run- ning in place." Quarterbacks Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan and David Cone received almost equal snaps, and Rodriguez said they are learning his system at a predictable pace. Rodriguez said Saturday that junior running back Carlos Brown, who played quarterback his senior year of high school, hadn't taken reps at the position - and "it would be a secret" if Brown was in the running. But after breaking his finger this week in what Rodriguez called a "freak accident" while lifting weights, Brown is now expected to miss most of the spring. Rodriguez said junior running back Brandon Minor has had "excellent practices" this week. Atyesterday's practice, defensive coordinator Scott Shafer empha- sized the need for senior leader- ship on defense, BROWN and Rodriguez named fifth-year senior corner- back Mor- gan Trent YEAR: Junior as one of POSITION: the team's RunningBack earlyvocal INJURY: Broke leaders. I The finger, likely to Wol- make him miss verines some practice have not been able to practice kickoffs or kickoff returns because of the low ceil- ing at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, but the team has practiced punts, punt blocking, field goals and field goal blocking daily. Rodriguez said film sessions have been nearly as important as the actual practices, but watch- ing film has left him "usually more discouraged than encour- aged." "You see a lot of things on film, like geez, that guy's not running full speed and all that," he said. "I think sometimes, I tell them the two worst things you can be are lazy and soft, and sometimes fatigue makes you both of those. We've got to stress that we've got to get in better shape." SPRING GAME UPDATE: Rodri- guez again confirmed the spring game will be held Apr. 12 at a location yet to be determined, possibly a local high school.' He called the spring game more of a "scrimmage" and said that, similar to last year, the offense will be pitted against the defense. In last year's spring game, the defense was awarded six points for a turnover and three points for a three-and-out, while the offense earned six points for a touchdown and two points for a pass of 20 yards or more. "We'll have a point system that nobody will like and can fig- ure out, but that's okay," Rodri- guez said. OTHER INJURIES: Redshirt junior runningbackKevinGrady, redshirt freshman running back Avery Horn and fifth-year senior defensive tackle Will Johnson participated in yesterday's prac- tice after being minor injuries caused them to miss the start of spring practice Saturday. Rodriguez expressed disap- pointment that sophomore wide receiver Zion Babb could not participate in yesterday's prac- tice. "Most coaches say, if you get through a practice, got funda- mentally better and didn't get anybody hurt, it's a good day," Rodriguez said. "But that's not always totally true." No. 3 Utah only roadblock to a perfect regular season for the Wolverines By NICOLE AUERBACH Daily Sports Writer Twenty four routines stand between the Michigan women's gymnasticsteam and. a perfect regular season. Utah at There's just Michigan one catch - they'll be stack- Matchup: ing up against Utah (10-1) 24 performanc- chian es from No. 3 Utah. When: Sat- That doesn't urday 6 p.m. mean the Where: fourth-ranked Crisler Arena Wolverines (5- Stats: O Big Ten, 18- Mgoblue.com O overall) will be intimidated when they take on the Utes Sat- urday. The last time Michigan com- peted in Crisler Arena two weeks ago, it knocked off No. 1 Georgia with a season-high 197.600-point score. But the Wolverines have a slightly different look in this showdown - they'll be without a star freshman. Trish Wilson is out for the sea- son after tearing her ACL in a fall during her exhibition floor rou- tine in the Georgia meet. "We'rehopingthat she'llbe able to have surgery within another week or two and that we'll get her on the road to recovery," Michi- gan coach Bev Plocki said. "We'll concentrate on getting her ready for next year." Wilson's biggest contributions this year have come on the uneven bars. Competing on bars in every meet this season, Wilson collected four event titles over the course of the year. Against Georgia, she won bars with a career-high 9.925 score. Wilson has occasionally competed on floor and beam this season, too. This isn't the first time Michi- gan has dealt with a loss. Riddled with minor injuries all season, lineup adjustments have yet to faze the Wolverines. Last week- end at Maryland, juniors Tatjana Thuener-Rego and Huneth Lor returned to competition after sit- ting out the Georgia meet. Sopho- more Jaclyn Kramer saw her first action of the year against the Ter- rapins, competing on floor exer- cise. Sophomore all-arounder Sarah Curtis was pulled from the vault and floor lineups to give her a weekend to recover from minor aches and pains. Michigan's other all-arounder, fifth-year senior captain Lindsey Bruck, competed in all four events at Maryland and won the 11th all-around title of her career. Utah comes into Ann Arbor after suffering its first loss of the season. The Utes lost on the road to No. 2 Florida last weekend. Utah is the only other team to defeat top-ranked Georgia this season, a feat the Utes accomplished in the opening meet of the year on Jan. 11. The Utes didn't face top- five competition again until last weekend's loss. Michigan and No. 9 Oklahoma (17-0) are the only teams in the country that remain undefeated. "We're going to bring our 'A' game against Utah," Bruck said. "This week in the gym it's more about quality of routines, not quantity. We should be able to hit what we need to in practice and in meets." 6 Fifth-year senior Lindsey Bruck won her 11th career all-around title last weekend at Maryland. She leads Michigan into its top-four showdown with Utah Saturday. t