tea' r Monday, June 4, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom sports@michigandaiy.com 734-764-8585 Loss keeps Blue in Tenn. By ANDY REID Daily Sports Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Everyone told the Michigan baseball team it didn't belong in VANDERBILT 10 the same MICHIGAN 7 Regional as top overall seed Vanderbilt. The Wolverines had to sit idly by as a media circus "literally" fol- lowed the Commodores and their star, NCAA player of the year pitcher David Price. But every one of the 3,500 plus black-and-gold clad Vander- bilt enthusiasts that packed into Hawkins Field were surprised to see that their Commodores were not the squad that took control of the Nash- ville Regional. The Wolverines, guided by big bats and inspired pitching, fought their way to a 10-7 win over Memphis and a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Van- derbilt before finally succumbing to the Commodores, the nation's top- ranked team, Sunday night 10-7. With a win last night, Michigan could have secured its first Regional championship since 1984 and a spot in a Super Regional next weekend. Instead, the Wolverines will square off with Vanderbilt again tomor- row night at 7 p.m. Since both teams already have a loss in the double- elimination tournament, the Region- al title will go to whichever wins the game. Last night, Michigan's struggles began early when senior pitcher Andrew Hess couldn't close out the second inning. The Commo- dore offense exploded for a seven- 'M'-Nine topples top-ranked Vandy By ANDY REID tandem in the nation. Daily Sports Writer Minor completely stifled the Michigan offense for most NASHVILLE, Tenn. - If of the game. The Wolverines Michigan baseball coach Rich recorded just one hit in the Malo- _- first five innings. But their ney MICHIGAN 4 slumbering offense woke up was a /A VANDERBILT 3 in the sixth inning. more After loading the bases feeble man, the last three with two hits and a hit by weeks may have taken a fatal pitch, junior Nate Recknagel toll on him. stepped up to the plate. Minor After all, clinching a regular had baffled Recknagel up to season Big Ten Title, bowing the sixth, striking him out in out of the conference tourna- his first two at bats. But the ment after just two games, first baseman sent a rocket having to cross your fingers over the rightfielder's head for and hope for a bid to the NCAA a three-run double. Tournament and then accept- "It felt like Christmas ing an invitation to play in an morning," sophomore pitcher NCAA Regional hosted by the Mike Wilson said. "(Minor) top overall seed Vanderbilt in had Recknagel's number for a matter of weeks can cause a the first couple of at bats, but lot of stress. that's what Reck does. People But as Maloney always says, don't notice it, but if you get "That's baseball." In a game of him twice, he's going to get ups, down, twists and turns, you the third time. He's going the Wolverines experienced to get you when it counts, and more than their fair share there's nothing bigger than a recently, but, according to bases-clearing double." sophomore Adam Abraham Added Maloney: "It was a all of that anxiety paid off moment. There are certain when Michigan pulled off an moments in a game, and that improbable 4-3 upset of the was definitely one." Commodores last Saturday The Wolverines also had to night. subdue the Commodore bat- "We went through a stretch ting lineup that tallied 10 or where wins were coming more runs in 21 games this easy," Abraham said. "We season to that point. cruised our way to a Big Ten But Wilson didn't let the Title, and things just kind of big, black-and-gold bats scare got disoriented for us. We got him. lazy a little bit and didn't have "I wanted this game, and I the same passion that had got it," said Wilson, who gave gotten us all those wins, and up just seven hits in seven when we got two losses in the innings. "The crowd was elec- tournament, it rejuvenated us tric. I'm sure there were a lot a little bit and got us pumped of people worried about how for this one." I'd respond, but I feed off it. I "This one" was a crucial really do. game at Hawkins Field against "When you face a team that Vanderbilt. Under the bright can beat you one through nine, lights, Michigan had to face in you just have to contain them. Mike Minor, the bottom half You can't go in there and think of arguably the best pitching See BASEBALL, Page 15 Junior Nate Recknagel (left) and senior Andrew Hess (right) couldn't figure out a way to beat Vanderbilt yesterday. The Wolverines will face the Commodores again tonight. hit, seven-run inning, led by junior Brad French's two-RBI single that dropped into shallow centerfield. All seven runs were scored before a single out was tallied by the Michi- gan defense. Sophomore Ben Jenzen's reliev- ing Hess in the second inning was the start of a wild pitching carousel for the Wolverines, who used four pitchers in total. Freshman Eric Katzman, who had not thrown a pitch in a game in 25 days, was sent to the mound to replace Jenzen in the sixth, and freshman Alan Oaks, who had pitched just a third of an inning in his entire career, was called upon to close out the game. The shaky pitching opened oppor- tunities for Vanderbilt all game long. In total, the Wolverines allowed 10 hits, 10 walks and hit two batters. "You can't beat the No. 1 team in the country like that," Michigan coach Rich Maloney said. "You give that up and you don't deserve to win. I mean, we're lucky ... this thing could've ended up having a football score." If the Wolverines want to give themselves a chance intonight's con- test, their starting pitching will be key. Vanderbilt's bullpen is extreme- ly deep, and Michigan will need its starting pitcher - most likely sophomore Chris Fetter - to throw plenty of pitches to combat the Com- modores' depth. "At this point in the season, you go with what you think in your heart is the best lineup to win," Maloney said. "We'll put out the best nine guys we have. We'll throw the best pitch- ers we have (tomorrow). It's about guys making plays. At this point in the season it's all about whose star is going to shine." Michigan will have plenty of motivation to get up for tomorrow's game. The Wolverines will be play- ing for their tournament lives. A win rewards them with a Super Regional berth, a loss sends them back to Ann Arbor, their season completed.