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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7A

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 7A

BA E BA LL
Bourque proving himself
as reliable midweek option

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Freshman left fielder Will Drake doubled and scored Michigan's lone run against Bowling Green on Tuesday.
Falcons stun Michigan

By LIZ NAGLE its pitching staff and a handful
Daily Sports Writer of key defensive plays. Freshman
right-hander James Bourque got
After a tough weekend series the start, and threw for 5.1 innings
against Michigan State, including without a single earned run.
Sunday's 13-inningloss, the Mich- After giving up only one hit in
iganbaseballteam had little ener- the first three innings, Bourque
gy left. The Wolverines entered briefly struggled and loaded the
Tuesday's bases, allowing two singles and
midweek BGSU 2 hitting Bowling Green catcher
game MICHIGAN 1 Jeremy Shay. He struck out the
against next Falcon in the lineup, and red-
Bowling Green lethargic. shirt sophomore second baseman
The Michigan offense pro- John DiLaura tagged Shay for the
duced just three hits and one run final out.
against the Falcons en route to a It was Bourque's seventh
2-1 loss. But the Wolverines' lack appearance on the mound this
of stamina wasn't evident at first. season and he proved himself a
With two outs in the first worthy midweek starter, throw-
inning, freshman left fielder Will ing six strikeouts and allowing no
Drake doubled down the left-field walks. But after holding Bowling
line and senior catcher Coley Green scoreless in the first five
Crank batted him in on a single. innings, Falcon first baseman
But the Wolverines (2-4 Big Drew Kuns recorded an unearned
Ten, 15-18 overall) didn't have run after a second-base fielding
anything left in the tank. error and wild pitch.
Thoughneitherteamimpressed Maloney likes to use the mid-
at the plate, Michigan posted only week games as an opportunity
one additional hit throughout the for some of the less experienced
next eight innings, while Bowling players to see some action. After
Green (2-7 MAC, 12-20) notched Bourque's solid performance,
a total of six. A dull day and lack- sophomore right-hander Jake
luster play seemed to go hand-in- Engels hurled for his first inning
hand with forceful winds and the since March 17 against Coastal
brisk 39-degree air. Carolina. Engels gave up a walk
"The elements sometimes but no hits or runs to keep the
make it a tough day to score," game tied 1-1 before sophomore
Maloney said. right-hander Alex Lakatos came
What kept Michigan afloat was out of the bullpen.

Lakatos has been an asset as of
late. He's taken the mound in four
out of the last six games without
giving up a single earned run in
15 innings of work. Since the bat-
ting order couldn't make contact,
Winger's nearly perfect defensive
skills helped hold Bowling Green
to few runs. He made a jumping
catch to snag Falcon shortstop
Brandon Howard's line drive to
first base in the fifth inning.
Winger made the routine plays
and tallied the Wolverines' final
hit of the game with a single to the
pitcher but was tagged out at sec-
ond base on a fielder's choice.
Though his fielding is right on
target, Winger recently fell into a
slump at the plate. But he's confi-
dent that his swing is improving,
and he's focused on his approach,
trying to aim toward right field
and relaxing his hands.
Falcon pinch runner Alex Davi-
son scored the winning run in
the eighth inning due to another
second-base fielding error and
sacrifice bunt. Michigan needed
the same unlikely players to step
up like they did against the Spar-
tans. But after only one inning of
offensive work, there was no one
in the lineup with enough energy
to produce the same results.
"Our options are really lim-
ited," Maloney said. "We'll go out
there and see if we can play better
tomorrow."

Freshman threw 5.1
innings of five-hit
ball in Tuesday's
loss to Falcons
By STEVEN BRAID
Daily SportsWriter
The skies were gray, the tem-
peratures were cold, and snow
flurries fell from the sky, but
freshman right-hander James
Bourque felt none of that.
Despite the unfavorable
pitching conditions, Bourque
hurled a superb performance
in Michigan's 2-1 loss against
Bowling Green (2-7 MAC, 12-20
overall). Followinga solid outing
against Central Michigan last
Wednesday, he exhibited signs
of becoming a consistent force in
the starting rotation - at times
he was brilliant, and at other
times, when he was struggling,
he displayed the ability to work
out of trouble.
In 5.1 innings of work for the
Wolverines (2-4 Big Ten, 15-18),
Bourque allowed five hits and
one unearned run while striking
out six batters against a Falcons
offense that entered the match-
up batting near .300.
"He pitched a great game
today," said sophomore first
baseman Brett Winger. "He got
ahead of all of his hitters and his
breaking ball was pretty nasty.
We just didn't get the job done
for him."

After allowing a double to Fal-
cons left fielder Andrew Kubuski
in the bottom of the first inning
- a fly ball that was misplayed
by freshman left fielder Will
Drake - Bourque responded by
retiring the next eight batters he
faced, while striking out three.
"He's got good stuff," said
Michigan coach Rich Maloney.
"He was throwing three pitches
for strikes, so I think it's just
been (Bourque) getting out there
and getting more comfortable."
Though he was stellar early
in the game, Bourque's improve-
ment as a starter was most vis-
ible in the subsequent innings.
After silencing Bowling Green's
bats for three innings, Bourque
found himself headed for trouble
during the next two.
With one out in the fourth
frame, he relinquished back-
to-back singles before hitting a
batter with a pitch. But with the
bases loaded, Bourque remained
unflustered. He struck out des-
ignated hitter Patrick Lancaster
and got right fielder Jesse Rait to
ground into a fielder's choice to
get himself out of the jam.
The bottom of the fifth inning
brought more of the same for
Bourque. After retiring the first
two batters, he hit center fielder
Jake Thomas with a pitch and
gave up a single to third baseman
Logan Walker, putting runners
on first and second base with the
heart of Bowling Green's lineup
coming up. But with the count
full, he fanned Kubuski to leave
both base runners stranded.

"I think (my biggest improve-
ment) has mostly been throwing
strikes early, especially with my
off-speed pitches," Bourque said.
"Getting 0-1 and 0-2 on hitters,
and then being able to throw
three pitches for strikes, that's
big for me, so it helps a lot."
After allowing an unearned
run with one out in the fifth
inning, Bourque was relieved by
right-hander Alex Lakatos with
the game tied 1-1. Despite his
team giving up a late run to the
Falcons, Maloney was pleased
with Bourque's continued suc-
cess.
"He has grown as a pitcher
and has gotten better, so that's
encouraging," Maloney said.
Once a liability for the Wolver-
ines, Bourque has transformed
into a reliable midweek option.
In his first two starts, against
Chicago State and Eastern Mich-
igan, he allowed six earned runs
and walked nine batters in 6.1
innings, but his last two outings
have showcased a much different
hurler.
In Michigan's 7-3 victory
against Central Michigan,
Bourque allowed just two hits
and one earned run in three
innings to collect the win.
Though he earned a no-decision
against Bowling Green, he low-
ered his ERA from 4.70 to 3.48,
and his 5.1 innings were the most
he has thrown as a starter.
"I feel a lot more comfortable
(starting) and it's a lot more fun,
especially when you're throwing
strikes," Bourque said.

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Hutchins
Coach rewards
0 players with candy
and cupcakes
during games
By GREG GARNO
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 20 Michigan softball
team has won nine of its last 10
games, and it isn't because of
increased offensive production,
strong pitching or consistent
defense.
The real
culprit? WMU at
Sweets.
Michigan Michngan
(8-1 Big Ten, Matchup:
24-10 overall) WMU 17-12;
has dominat- Michigan 27-10
ed its recent When:
opponents, Wednesday
outscoring 6 P.M.
them 90-32 in Where:
the 10-game Alumni Field
span. Though TV/Radio:
several compo- MGoBlue.com
nents have led
to the strong
performance, Michigan coach
Carol Hutchins and senior first-
baseman Amanda Chidester
recently hinted that they owe
some motivation to their sweet
teeth.
Two weekends ago, in a series
against Indiana, the Wolverines
came into the final game having
split the first two 'games. Going
into the seventh inning with a
7-2 lead, Michigan looked to hold
on and close out the game and
the series. Freshman left-hander
Haylie Wagner's first and second
pitches were recorded as outs,
and it was then that Hutchins
decided to do something bold.
"I told the dugout, 'If we get
an out on three pitches, cupcakes
for everybody,' "Hutchins said.
Sure enough, after the ball
was hit to Chidester at first base
and fielded for the final out, the
dugout erupted.

taps into team's sweet tooth SOFTBALL
, tDresenga shows
promise at plate

Senior first baseman Amanda Chidester picks up an M&M from coach Carol Hutchins at third base.

By COLLEEN THOMAS
Daily Sports Writer
In softball, it's rare that a pitch-
er finds her way into the batting
order, especially when she's also
starting in the circle.
But for Michigan's freshman
Sara Driesenga, it's a different
story.
On March 21, against Eastern
Michigan, Driesenga found her-
self in the lineup, both as a pitcher
and as a hitter. And she made the
most of both opportunities.
The right-hander notched three
strikeouts and gave up one earned
run in five innings, enough for her
fifth win of the season.
At the plate, Driesenga - who
held a .504 career batting average
in high school - drew a walk in
the first inning, then knocked in
two runs with a home run to left-
center field in the third inning.
And that was all Michigan
coach Carol Hutchins wanted.
"Sara has been swinging her
bat," Hutchins said. "We had her
off and on early in the preseason.
We really wanted her to spend
time focusing on her pitching and
working on her swing during prac-
tice, but we gave her an opportuni-
ty against Eastern Michigan."
Her performance against the
Eagles earned her a permanent
spot in the lineup as the designat-
ed player. The designated player
is the softball equivalent to the
designated hitter in baseball, just
with a different name.
"She earned her spot, and it's
hers to lose," Hutchins said.
Since then, Driesenga has a .491
average, tallied six RBIs and seven
runs, knocked in two solo home
runs - both in the first game
against Ohio State last weekend -
and drew five walks. And if you're
just looking at batting average,
with no minimum at-bats, Dries-

enga leads the team at .395.
Her pitching has also improved
since the nonconference schedule.
The Hudsonville, Mich. native
picked up her sixth and seventh
wins in conference play and has
improved her release, giving
her the ability to complete more
games. Though she's expected
to do well in the circle, she's
impressed in the batter'sbox.
But is Hutchins really surprised
by Driesenga's production?
"I don't know about surprised,"
Hutchins said. "We think she's
capable and she's been very poised'
in the box. We've been search-
ing throughout the year to find-
a lineup that's going to work for,,
us. We had a lot of different kids-
we looked to, and she responded
immediately and been really con-
sistent."
The infield has rotated numer-
ous times this season, including
spots on the field and in the bat-
ting order, while the outfield has-
remained somewhat constant.
Michigan was missing a ninth'
batter who could be a reliable'
threat. Hutchins tried freshman
catcher Becca Garfinkel, sopho-
more catcher Caitlin Blanchard
and even freshman left-hander'
Haylie Wagner, who batted well'
over .400 in high school.
But after her breakout perfor-
mance against Eastern Michigan,
Driesenga has found herself in the
lineup every game since.
And with Driesenga now a part
of a solid lineup, the Wolverines
have seen a significant jump in
offensive production across the
board.
"This is now the nine we're
going to go with at this point,"
Hutchins said, on the perma-
nent addition of Driesenga to the
lineup. "(And) we do seem to be
hitting our stride offensively. We
seem comfortable."

"Nobody on the field knew
what was going on, but the dug-
out went crazy because I'm not
above bribing them," Hutchins
said.
But Hutchins didn't stop
there. In last weekend's series
against Ohio_
State, Hutchins
treated her « Y
players by pro- O
viding candy in need so
the middle of
an 11-4 victory. sugar. 'Y
"I think
about the some e
fourth inning
I brought
out Easter

regroup and keep composure, but
as Chidester noted, this instance
was different because the girls
were surprised to receive jelly
beans.
"(Hutchins) was like, 'Here
you guys need some more sugar.
You need
some energy,'
" Chidester
1 guyS said. "So we
me more got the candy
to help with
(ou need it. ... It was
like letting us
nergy.' " loose a little
bit and let-
ting us laugh.
I think it

next day. Though the candy
may not benefit the team physi-
cally, it is an example of helping
the team mentally. Since the Big
Ten implemented three-game
series, instead of double headers,
to help teams prepare for NCAA
Regionals, the Wolverines have
returned home exhausted. The
jelly beans help relieve the stress
a long weekend poses.
But this recent attempt to use
candy as motivation is nothing
new to Hutchins and Michigan.
When athletes trot around third
base heading for home after a
home run, Hutchins will toss
her players a peanut M&M as a
reward.
No, these aren't Twix, and
there's no need to snicker, but
come June, the Wolverines know
where to look when they need a
boost.

candy, trying to give (the girls) helped us aClot."
some juice to get them going," After that inning, the Wol-
Hutchins said. verines batted in another three
The team often huddles runs to close the game out and
together between innings to finished with a 6-5 victory the

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