14 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, May 15, 1996
SPORTS
PLAYOFFS
Continued from Page 13
single to right field to push the score to
13-10.
Bryan Besco didn't fare too well in
his sixth appearance of the season. He
failed to hang on to a three-run lead his
teammates procured for him in the first
inning, surrendering four runs on three
hits in the top of the third, and was taken
out of the game with just one out in the
inning.
The Spartans proceeded to tag Tyler
Steketee for three more runs, and he was
pulled by Michigan coach Geoff Zahn
without recording an out. Michigan's
Matt Herr saved the Wolverines from
more chaos after striking out two to end
the third after 11 Michigan State batters
came to the plate.
Michigan, however, kept on coming
back. The Wolverines added two runs in
the bottom of the third inning and one in
the fourth and fifth to keep the game in
reach.
And then came the wild sixth -
complete with the second snow shower of
the day - with the fans urging Michigan
on for one last rally.
Michigan might have been down, but
it was never out.
"I'm proud of the kids, Zahn said.
"They battled back really hard in that last
game. When you go into a series knowing
that you pretty well have to sweep to have
a chance - and they do it - it shows a
lot of character"
TheWolverines' closerJohn Arvai (3-
2) pitched the final two and two-thirds
innings to pick up the win. He surren-
dered one run on Marshall's third homer
of the season, but also struck out five.
The Wolverines had an easier time
with the Spartans in the first game on
Sunday. Brian Steinbach (4-3) pitched a
seven inning complete game for the vic-
tory, allowing three runs on nine hits and
striking out six.
Dransfeldt and Derek Besco account-
ed for nine of the ten runs scored by
Michigan. Besco drove in four, including
a two-run homer. Dransfeldt's three-run
blast, his team-leading ninth dinger of the
season, put the game out of reach in the
sixth. The junior shortstop had five RBI
on that day.
In Saturday's first game at East
Lansing, Michigan's Mark Temple (8-4)
threw his fifth complete game of the sea-
son in a 2-1 pitching duel.
In the next game, Michigan capital-
ized on three Spartan errors and
Cervenak had three hits in a 4-1 victory.
J.J. Putz pitched into the fifth inning and
struck out five to even his record at 5-5.
Arvai picked up his seventh save.
For the seniorcloser, who contributed
with a win and a save, nothing could be
sweeter.
"To end your (regular season) career
with a win against Michigan State, I
couldn't ask for anything more," Arvai
said. "I couldn't be happier right now."
Michigan now must refocus for Penn
State, who took three out of four at Fisher
Stadium April 20-21. But Zahn said he
knows it's a new season and a clean slate
in the playoffs.
"We go into the playoffs and we'
not going to he favored'" Zahn said. "But
it's a great experience for our kids and
you never know in a short series what
could happen.'
Michigan's Kelly Dransfeldt is congratulated by teammates after his three-run homer in the Wolverines' 10-3 blowout over Michigar
State on Sunday. Michigan celebrated again when the Wolverines learned that they had made it into the Big Ten toumament.
'M' men's tennis upset by old nemesis
Gophers in NCAA Regional semifinals
By Chris Farah aged to win the Big Tens for the first winning the Big Ten title.
For the Daily time since 1988. "That's the goal of all of us-t
The luck of the Irish certainly was Michigan coach Brian Eisner said the Big Ten," Geatz said. "It's1
not with the Michigan men's tennis Minnesota played well, but that the after that for Michigan because th
team last weekend. Wolverines still would have claimed a natural letdown."
At the NCAA Regional the victory had they played up to their Senior Peter Pusztai, ranked N
Championship at South Bend, the potential. nationally, faced a tough match al
Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-2) "Today's match was a tremendous the Gophers' Lars Hjarrand, r
came back to haunt the Wolverines (18- battle," Eisner said. "The Michigan and No. 29. Pusztai - who will cor
8) once again. Minnesota series has been a war in the individually at the N
The sixth-seeded Gophers upset the last three years, [but] we have played Championships May 18-26 in A
No. 2 seeded Michigan squad in the Minnesota better in the past than we did Ga. - started the match strong,
semifinals to end the Wolverines' most today. We were not quite as good as we ning the first set, 6-4, but went
successful season since 1988. could have been." lose the next two hard-fought sets
Minnesota ousted the Wolverines by Minnesota coach David Geatz said 6-2.
winning four matches to Michigan's he was not surprised by his team's upset Michigan No. 2 singles
two, putting an end to the Wolverines' of the Wolverines. Costanzo also fell to his Mint
11-match win streak and avenging a 5- "We feel we don't have anything to opponent, Ben Gabler, in straigi
2 loss to Michigan earlier this season. prove," Geatz said. "We really wanted close sets, 6-4, 6-4.
For the past three years, Minnesota to play Michigan again so we got our The only two singles victories
has been Michigan's rival in tourna- chance. We are getting better as the sea- from No. 3 Arvid Swan and
ment play, edging it out for the confer- son goes on." William Farah.
ence title in the Big Ten Tournament in Geatz speculated that Michigan's Eisner said he expected the si
1994 and 1995, and now denying disappointing performance stemmed matches to be closely played.
Michigan its hopes for national glory in from the emotional drain the "Both teams have such solid si
the NCAAs, after the Wolverines man- Wolverines may have experienced after players that I knew it would be ha
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us to win four of six singles matches if
we lost the doubles point," Eisner said.
The doubles point is awarded to the
team winning two of the three doubles
matches.
The Gophers earned the point by
taking victories in No. 2 and No. 3
doubles, and used the score to pro l
them to the match win.
"We competed hard and I am proud
of our players," said Eisner, summing
up the match and the season.
"We had a great year and a great
match."