*SPORaTS
Q: Who was the skipper of
the Michigan baseball team
the last time it qualified for
the Big Ten tournament?
's6nepp!W png :V
Baseball earns first playoff berth since 1989
cott Burton
LV BASEBALL WRITER
There probably was no more sus-
enseful way for the Michigan base-
all team (26-27 overall, 13-15 Big
en) to qualify for postseason play
ian its four-game series split, 13-12,
-8, 1-4, 8-6, with Illinois (26-26, 12-
6).
The Wolverines needed at least
y victories in theweekendseries to
ify for the Big Ten playoffs as
ne of the conference's top-four
rams. Unfortunately, Michigan put
11 the pressure on game four after
ropping two of the first three con-
rsts.
The pressure only mounted after
lichigan blew 4-1 and 6-5 leads
rd headed into extra innings tied,
-6. Both teams then went scoreless
*the first two frames of extra
nings, despite the fact that both
ams were recycling weary arms
n the mound.
Finally, WolverineshortstopRyan
an Oeveren knocked in Chad
hapman in the top of the 10th inning
ith a one-out single to give Michi-
n the lead. Van Oeveren three bat-
ters later crossed the plate with an
insurance run on a sacrifice fly by
Brian Simmons.
But it wasn't until John Arvai (3-
0) - Michigan's closer - pitched
out of a bases-loaded jam in the bot-
tom of the 10th that Michigan sealed
the victory and third place in the Big
Ten.
"It was an great series," Illinois
coach Richard Jones said. "All the
games went right down to the wire.
We had an outside chance of getting
in the playoffs if we won three of four,
so it was exciting."
In a twist of Michigan's fortunes
all season, the Wolverines offense
carried the team to victories, while
the pitching struggled.
No where was this better epito-
mized in game one, where Michigan
pounded three homers - including
two by Sean Coston - but allowed
four as well. Ray Ricken (6-6) picked
up a fortunate victory despite allow-
ing six runs and six hits in five in-
nings.
"We've been a good offensive
team all year, so we though we could
come into this series and swing our
bats and produce some runs," Jones
said.
Michigan now head into the
double-elimination, round-robin Big
Ten tournament, which is scheduled
tomorrow through Sunday in Battle
Creek. The winner of the tournament
earns an automatic berth into the
NCAA playoffs.
Michigan begins play tomorrow
against second-place Minnesota (21-
7), who split with Michigan in its four
game series two weeks ago.
Ohio State is the prohibitive fa-
vorite in the tournament, carrying a
25-2 conference record and a top-15
nationalranking. Michigan State(13-
15) sneaks into the tournament as tie
fourth-place team after winning a
weekend series with Iowa (13-15).
"I think that when you go into
the playoffs, everyone is 0-0," Jones
said. "The pressure falls on Ohio
See BASEBALL, Page 15
Michigan freshman Kelly Dransfeldt slides safely into second base last week against Xavier. Last weekend the
Wolverines split with Illinois, but qualified for the Big Ten tournament for the first time since 1989.
0o postseason play for softball
Volverines drop three to Indiana, fall to third in Big Ten
v Ryan White Michigan dropped both games last Things returned to the weekend's
ILY SPORTS WRITER Friday by close margins losing by norm in the final game of the series as
There will be no third straight Big scores of 2-0 and 2-1. Indiana came out on top by a 2-0
n Championship or NCAA tourna- On Saturday the Wolverines' bats score.
ent appearance for the Michigan woke up and pounded out 11 runs in Unlike baseball, softball does not
all team. game No. 3 defeating Indiana 11-5. yet have a post-season tournament,
hat fact was assured last week- Six Michigan players collected two though one is scheduled to begin next
d when Indiana took three out of hits apiece, and second baseman season. The format will be like
ur games against the Wolverines in Kathryn Gleason and catcher Jenni- baseball's where the top four teams
diana. The losses put Michigan (18- fer Smith each had three RBI.
Big Ten, 34-26 overall) in a tie for See SoFMALL, Page 15
ird in the final Big Ten standings
ith Ohio State.
Just as the.Wolverine's losses
opped them into third, the Hoosiers F r e
ins propellednthem into first placeM
*he Big Ten championship.
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INTRAMURAL
. SPORTS PROGRAM
TENNIS TOURNAMENT
(Singles & Doubles)
Entry Deadline: Thursday 6/2
2:30 p.m.
IMSB Main Office
Tourney Dates: Sat & Sun 6/4 & 5
Starting Time: 10:00 a.m.
For Additional Information Contact IMSB 763-3562