Sports Page 16 Saturday, May 23, 1981 The Michigan Daily 4 Buc By MARTHA CRALL "We have to accept the fact that it is no longer a double-elimination tour- nament. It's single-elimination." The man who said those words, Michigan head coach Bud Middaugh, had reason to sound disappointed as the Big Ten Champion Wolverines fell to the University of New Orleans, 2-1, in the first game of the double-elimination NCAA Mideast Regional yesterday at Fisher Stadium. MICHIGAN RAN into a pitcher with a 4.40 ERA who pitched an exceptional game, allowing the Wolverines only seven hits in the nine-inning affair. Southpaw Ronn Dixon (9-4) gave up a lone run while walking two and striking out two. The senior Privateer got off to a rocky start, allowing two hits and two walks in the first two frames, but set- tIed down to retire 12 Wolverines in a row after his early wildness. "After the first inning it looked like I'd have troubles," said Dixon. "I figured it would happen to me because of the two-week layoff. In the third or fourth, I found my grove, though. "My catcher (Tim Jamieson) called a great game for me," Dixon said. "We hardly disagreed on any calls. We've lived together for four years now and we know each other pretty well." MICHIGAN'S only run came in the eighth inning on a mammoth home run by Jim Paciorek over the 400-foot mark in straight-away centerfield. The Wolverines had only one man past second base otherwise, with their biggest threat coming in the first inning when left-fielder Randy Wroten was bs edge Wolver Blue bats sluggish in 2-1 setback safe on Jamieson's error and advanced to second on Paciorek's single. With two outs, freshman third baseman Chris Sabo lined a single to right field which Howie Brodsky scooped up and fired home perfectly to catch Wroten trying to score. Dixon got tougher as the innings went by, though, and when Privateer head coach Ron Maestri visited the mound after Paciorek's blast, the skipper went back to the dugout convinced that his pitcher was not tired. Dixon recorded his only two strikeouts in the ninth in- ning. DIXON HAD praise for his defense, which rade several outstanding plays, including two for first baseman Jeff Thompson. "These guys make tough plays look routine," said New Orleans' all-time leader in wins. "Defense was the key," said Maestri. "I felt from the beginning of the season that defense would be our strong point, and it was excellent today." New Orleans scored its runs in the second inning with a little help from the Michigan defense. Second baseman Kevin Degen legged out an infield hit after one man was out and Mike Jen- nings followed with a shot which han- dcuffed Michigan shortstop Tony Evans and landed men on first and. second. Thompson then drilled a double up the gap in left center field to score Degen and Jennings. Wolverine starter Scot Elam (10-2) retired the last two men without further damage, however. EVEN THOUGH only one of the two Privateer runs was earned, Elam was in and out of trouble all afternoon. He was helped by his defense, however, which turned three double plays. The sophomore ace gave up eight hits and two runs, one earned, in six and one- third innings while walking two and striking out none. Steve Ontiveros came in to relieve Elam in the seventh and served up a double-play ball to end the inning, but got into quick trouble in the eighth. Shortstop Augie Schmidt led off with a single, which would have been a double had Wroten not made a great play down the line in left field. Brian DeValk followed with a bunt single and Dave Albrecht bunted after him. Michigan catcher Gerry Hool threw to third, but Schmidt slid in safely and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Ontiveros tightened his belt though and got Jamieson to hit a bouncer to second, which Jacobson threwhome for the force. Degen then softly bounced the ball to Ontiveros, who threw to Hool for the force and Hool fired to first to nines complete the double play. "BOTH CLUBS had several oppor- tunities to break the game open, but neither of them did," said Middaugh. "The loss will put a strain on our pit- ching staff. It is a big advantage to win the first game." Michigan now has to win four games to win the regional and advance to the college World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. "It's a great feeling to win," Maestri said. "But we can't get too elated about it. We just have to be loose and play our game." The Wolverines will play Nevada-Las Vegas, the loser of the second game, at 1 p.m. today at Fisher Stadium while New Orleans is slated to take on Eastern Michigan at 4 p.m.- Swashbuckled 123 456 789 R H E New Orleans ... 020 000 000 2' 10 3 MICHIGAN .... 000 000 010 1 7 1 Dixon and Jamieson Elam, Ontiveros (7) and Hool WP- Dixon LP- Elam HR- Paciorek EMU wallops UNLY, 15-3 By MARTHA CRALL Kurt Mattson probably saw baseballs flying in his sleep last night as the Rebels pitcher was rocked for 13 runs in Nevada-Las Vegas' 15-3 drubbing at the hands of Eastern Michigan yesterday at Fisher Stadium in their opening game of the NCAA Mideast Regional. Rightfielder Jim Irwin was the hit- ting hero for the Hurons, going three- for-four including two home runs and five RBIs. Five other Eastern Michigan batters collected two hits with Bryon Horn and Jim Riggs each contributing three RBIs apiece. THE HURONS, who finished sixth in the nation in team batting, collected three runs in the third and fourth frames, seven in the fatal seventh in- ning and two more in the eighth on six- teen hits. Senior hurler Randy Gorgon was the beneficiary of the runs, posting his seventh victory against three defeats while giving up only five hits, two walks and striking out three in the route-going performance. Rebel rightfielder Chris Smith picked up all three RBIs on his 14th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the fourth inning. Mattson (10-5) took the loss in going six and two-thirds innings, giving up 13 hits, 13 runs (12 earned) and three walks while striking out three Hurons. I 4 4 E I Daily Photo by PAUL ENGSTROM AN UNIDENTIFIED PRIVATEER dives back to first base as Michigan first baseman Tim Miller awaits the throw and umpire Joe Bob Taylor watches intently during yesterday's NCAA Mideast Regional competition at Fisher Stadium. Much to the chagrin of the partisan Michigan crowd, the throw was not in time and New Orleans went on to defeat Michigan, 2-1. I