The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.cam Friday, April 12, 2013 - 7 Pitching powers Wolverine streak By ALEX TAYLOR Daily Sports Writer Drawing on motivation from other Michigan athletic teams as well as an injured teammate, the Michigan baseball team will seek to extend its current winning streak to seven. The Wolverines (4-2 Big Ten, 17-14 overall) will take on Penn State i a three-game at Michigan series this Matchup: weekend. The Penn State Nittany Lions 7-21; Michi- (0-6, 7-21) have gan 17-14 struggled thus When: Friday far and have 4:05 p.m., been swept in Sautrday 4:05 their first two p.m., Sunday conference 12 p.m. series. Ear- Where: Wil- lier this week, pon Complex though, Penn TV/Radio: State defeated MGoBlue.com Kent State - which made an improbable run to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. last year. "For us, it's not really about them, it's about us," said Michi- gan coach Erik Bakich. "We're going to continue our style of play, and if we play to our poten- tial, and not down to the oppo- nent, then we should be able to take care of baseball." The Wolverines' style of play has been effective as of late, as this current winning streak is the team's longest since 2010. Michi- gan started its streak last week by dispatching two opponents in mid-week games before sweep- ing in-state rival Michigan State. The Wolverines followed that up by defeating No. 18 Notre Dame this past Tuesday, 4-1. The pitching staff, led by freshman Evan Hill, redshirt junior Logan McAnallen and sophomore Trent Szkutnik, has from first-inning runs en route to victories. "(Freshman infielder Travis) Maezes leads off the Saturday game with a triple, and he's fired up, he almost knocks me out when he slides in because he's so fired up," said Bakich, who is also the third-base coach. "In game three, (sophomore outfielder) Zach Zott hits a two-out, two- run absolute bomb for two runs in the first inning." Zott has wielded a hot bat recently for the Wolverines. In eight of his last 11 games, he has had at least two hits. On the sea- son, he carries a .329 average with a .447 slugging percentage. Forcing Penn State to use its bullpen will be an important fac- torthisweekend. Opponentshave scored a majority of their runs against the Nittany Lions in the later innings when their starters are no longer in the game. On Friday, Michigan will face redshirt sophomore T.J. Jann, who has appeared in seven games this year and has held opposing teams to a batting average of .235. After complications from Tommy John surgery in 2011, Jann was told by doctors that his baseball career could be over. After more than two years of rehab, Jann has been pitching solid as of late. In his most recent outing against Wright State, Jann pitched 7.1 innings while only giving up three runs. If Michigan continues its hot play, it should be in great posi- tion to not only win the series but to potentially get back-to- back sweeps. If the Wolverines do, they'll continue to add to the recent success of Michigan ath- letics, something not lost on the players or the coaching staff. "These guys just want to con- tribute to the winning tradition and to the winning ways," Bakich said. "That's what we're going to keep on doing." Sophomore Trent Szkutnik has been a big part of Michigan's six-game winning streak. Szkutnik is 3-4 with a 3.95 earned-run average in nine appearances Ibis season. been a big reason for Michigan's recent run. The staff has allowed just seven runs over the past six games. i Monday, Hill was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance against Michigan State. In eight innings of work, Hill gave up four hits, struck out four and allowed only one unearned run. The award is the third in Hill's short career - the others coming after his performances against Western Illinois and Saint Louis earlier this year. "Our entire pitching staff has really pitched terrific, with great tempo and just pounding the zone," Bakich said. "And a big part of it is having Pat Biondi back in the lineup. He is ajackrabbit in centerfield and he catches every- thing." While Michigan got Biondi, a senior, back from injury, the Wolverines lost fellow senior Ben Ballantine to an ankle injury sus- tained last week. A member of the team's leadership council, Bal- lantine was a starter for Michi- gan and had a 2.62 earned-run average in seven games. Ballan- tine underwent season-ending surgery on his ankle Tuesday. Although Ballantine was unable to attend Tuesday's game, he was still represented by teammates, who hung his jersey up in the dugout during the game. "Ben Ballantine's injury has meant a lot to this group," Bakich said. "They are really motivated to make sure we continue to play our butts off and do it for Ben." Without Ballantine, Michigan will likely stick with a three- man rotation consisting of all left-handers. Out of the bullpen, the Wolverines will continue to utilize senior right-hander Kyle Clark, sophomore right-hander Matt Ogden and freshman right- hander Jacob Cronenworth as they have all season. The Nittany Lions have some offensive weapons with the potential to hurt the Wolverines. Penn State's top three hitters are batting above .300 and have gap power. The three hitters, all righties, have matchup advan- tages against Michigan's lefty pitchers. Another key for Michigan will be continuing to get off to good starts offensively. In four of the games in the winning streak, the Wolverines have taken the early lead by scoring in the first inning. Twice against Michigan State, the Wolverines rode momentum Michigan looks to remain, .undefeated against Spartans By NATE SELL Daily Sports Writer The Michigan and Michi- gan State softball teams know each other all too well. In fact, the Wolverines have played the Spartans more than any other opponent in history. On Friday, the series will renew at Alumni Field. Although it's early in the season, No. 12 Michigan (9-0 Big Ten, 32-7 overall) and Michigan State Michigan (7-1, 21-14) State at have asserted Mich n themselves as powerhouses Matchup: in the Big Ten MSU 21-14; and currently Michigan 32-7 hold the top When: Fri- two spots in day 4 p.m. the conference. Where: Wil- The Wolver- pon Complex ines are riding TV/Radio: many streaks ESPN into this week- end, most nota- bly 14 straight wins. Against the Spartans, Michigan has a 76-27 all-time record and has won the last seven meetings. In the first game of the series, the Wolverines will look to defend Alumni Field, where they are 8-0 this season. Michi- gan hopes to get rolling early offensively, something that has led to wins this season - it's 19-1 when scoring before the second inning. The Wolverines have outscored opponents 78-18 in the first inning, leading to a number of shortened games. Against Western Michigan, they picked up their 14th run-rule victory of the season, winning 8-0. Since the beginning ofBig Ten play, the Wolverines have swept every team they have played and are the only remaining team in the Big Ten with a perfect con- ference record. Michigan also Berenson adds fifth goalie recruit to class By GREG GARNO hockey programs in the country Daily Sports Writer and study at a great university. We wish him the best of luck in After losing three defensemen his future." to the National Hockey League At six feet two inches tall, and graduation, the Michigan Nagelvoort brings the height hockey team needed to bolster between the pipes that Michi- its pairings at the blue line before gan coach Red Berenson pre- next season. fers. Freshman goaltender Steve But on Thursday, the Wol- Racine is the same height. verines received a commitment The Wolverines, who fin- from goaltender Zach Nagel- ished 18-19-3 overall this season, voort, who comes from the North already have four goalies on their American Hockey League's roster, though. Aberdeen Wings. Nagelvoort Racine started the last 10 will enter Ann Arbor this fall for games for Michigan this season, the 2013-14 season. posting an 8-1-1 record with a Nagelvoort will not be able to 2.00 goals-against average in sign until Wednesday, though, that stretch. The Wolverines the earliest possible time for pro- started two other netminders spective student athletes to sign in a tumultuous season, junior letters of intent. Adam Janecyk and freshman "Very happy to announce my Jared Rutledge. Redshirt sopho- commitment to the University of more Luke Dwyer remains the Michigan for next fall. Proud to other goalie on the roster. be a Wolverine!" Nagelvoort said The addition of Nagelvoort on Twitter. will likely mean that one of the Nagelvoort posted a 1.66 four will not be on the roster at goals-against average and .949 the beginning of next season. save percentage while going 8-1-1 But Michigan's glaring need in his time with Aberdeen. The is still at defense. The departure Holland, Mich. native originally of freshman Jacob Trouba to the played for the Soo Eagles before NHL and junior Jon Merrill to being traded to Aberdeen on the American Hockey League, Feb. 7, posting a combined 17-6-2 along with the loss of Lee Mof- record with both teams. fie to graduation, means only five Former Michigan goaltender defensemen return to ateam that Shawn Hunwick also played in gave up 3.25 goals per game - the NAHL as a member of the good for 51st in the nation. Alpena IceDiggers before walk- Nagelvoort will join nine ing onto Michigan's team. other commitments for next "We are extremely proud and year, including three defense- excited for Zach to continue men - Michael Downing, Spen- his career at the University of cer Hyman and Nolan de Jong. Michigan," said Aberdeen head Forwards Evan Allen, Max Shua- coach Travis Winter to NAHL. rt, Tyler Motte, J.T. Compher, com. "He will have the oppor- Bryson Cianfrone and Alex Kile tunity to play for one of the best also join Michigan next season. FOLLOW THE DAILY FOOTBALL BEAT Or the terrorists win. @blockmfootball @everettcook @theblockm @MattSlovin @zhelfand @LizVukelich Freshman shortstop Sierra Romero has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times this season. leads the Big Ten in 10 offensive categories including home runs, batting average, walks and on- base percentage. Michigan State has looked strong so far, currently in sec- ond place in the conference. The Spartans were perfect in the Big Ten until last weekend, when they dropped a game to Purdue. This is a huge turnaround from last. season, when they went winless against conference opponents and didn't beat any- one in East Lansing. Head coach Jacquie Joseph has already responded by nearly doubling her team's win total from last year when it finished 11-42. Freshman shortstop Sierra Romero is an anchor for the Wolverines' offense and has been recognized accordingly. After the series with Ohio State, she was named Big Ten Fresh- man of the Week for the third straight week and the fifth time this season. She also picked up her second Player of the Week award, leading to her being named one of USA Softball's 25 finalists for the Collegiate Soft- ball Player of the Year. She's one of two freshmen to make the list and one of two Big Ten players named. To come away with three wins this weekend, Michigan will have to keep outfielder Kylene Hopkins in check. The senior was an All-Big Ten first-team outfielder in 2012 and has led the Michigan State offense with a .426 batting average, 46 home runs and a.512 on-base percent- age. They will also have to get hits off junior Kelly Smith, who has developed into an ace for the Spartans, throwing 186 strike- outs in 150.2 innings for a 16-7 record on the season. After the first game in Ann Arbor, the teams will compete on Saturday and Sunday in East Lansing for games 105 and 106 between the two schools. Ohio State and Minnesota are the only other two schools that Michigan has played 100 times or more.