The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com 
Sports
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 — 11 

Heart of a Spartan, now a Wolverine: 

Joe Stewart’s unique opportunity

IAN PAYNE

Daily Sports Writer

JULIA SCHACHINGER/Daily 

Joseph Zain Rodger: 
Michigan’s pitchers 

need to step up

There is one divide that defines 

collegiate sports for many fans and 
athletes in the state of Michigan. 

The Michigan-Michigan State 

rivalry.

Allegiances are strong and pas-

sions run high. As a result, it’s not 
often that athletes cross the battle 
lines and transfer from one school 
to the other. But this season one 
player has taken this lightly traveled 
path, as the Michigan baseball team 
welcomes graduate outfielder, and 
Michigan State alum, Joe Stewart 
onto its roster as a graduate transfer 
student.

And he’s excited to have such a 

unique opportunity.

“I’m a Michigan kid, I grew 

up here,” Stewart said. “I have a 
unique opportunity that a lot of 
people don’t have, to get to play 
at both of the big universities in 
Michigan.”

This opportunity came as the 

result of an unexpected choice 
that many college baseball players 
find themselves facing.

In the wake of the COVID-19 

pandemic, Stewart was presented 
with an interesting possibility. 
Following the limiting of the 2020 
and 2021 baseball seasons due to 
COVID-19 concerns, the NCAA 
granted all active players an extra 
year of eligibility. The policy 
allowed many players to hang 
around the college scene and try 
exploring new horizons while 

continuing in the sport they love.

“I didn’t initially plan to play 

another season,” Stewart said. “I 
still enjoyed playing … I felt I still 
had something left in there.”

So 
Stewart 
exercised 
the 

option of entering the graduate 
transfer portal to play one more 
season, and Michigan coach Erik 
Bakich gave him a call.

“From talking to him and 

knowing some guys that have 
come through this program, (I 
knew) it was an awesome oppor-
tunity for me.” Stewart said.

And the Wolverine staff was 

thrilled to add Stewart to the ros-
ter.

Graduate 
transfers 

can be a valuable asset 
to a program due to 
their experience and 
outsiders’ perspective, 
which allows them to 
offer a fresh point of 
view. That insight can 
be useful.

“Being in the Big 

Ten, I know what this 
conference looks like 
and what it takes to 
be successful (here),” 
Stewart said. “I’m not 
necessarily 
as 
much 

the vocal leader, but 
(I’m) trying to show the 
younger guys, lead by 
example, do the right 
thing and what that 
looks like.”

Coach 
Bakich 
for 

one, appreciates having 
a player like Stewart to 

fill that role.

“I really like grad transfers,” 

Bakich 
said. 
“They’ve 
been 

instant leaders … experience wins 
at the college level, and they bring 
a lot to the table.”

While it used to be relatively 

difficult to line up grad trans-
fer students in college baseball, 
COVID-19 eligibility has made 
it fairly easy for Michigan to 
increase their number on its ros-
ter. The program has also pulled 
infielder Matt Frey and outfield-
er Alex Fedje-Johnson — both 
from Davidson College, whose 
head coach played under Bakich 
at Vanderbilt — out of the trans-

fer portal for this season to help 
enhance its lineup. 

“(Grad transfers) have a bit of 

a chip on their shoulder,” Bakich 
said. “They really have something 
to prove and want to be great.”

Being the most experienced 

members of the team, one of 
Bakich’s main goals for the gradu-
ate students are to impart both 
wisdom and the right attitude 
upon their new teammates, and 
Stewart seems to be the right man 
for the job.

In his senior season at Michi-

gan State, Stewart was named 
the team’s most improved player, 
and he has continued to display 

the work ethic and improvements 
that earned him that title.

“Joe Stewart comes to mind,” 

Bakich said when asked which 
players turned heads in preseason 
practices. “He’s probably the most 
improved player from when he 
first got here … he stands out, I 
think he’s got a chance to have a 
special year.”

Since then, Stewart has lived 

up to that praise with his perfor-
mance on the field.

In addition to leading the 

team by example off the field, he 
has achieved the results that his 
approach can yield. A fixture in 
the lineup, Stewart has hit the 

ball hard, and with 
discipline. He is also 
working 
to 
continue 

the defensive improve-
ments he saw last sea-
son in East Lansing, 
hoping to serve as a 
defensive rock in center 
field.

“On the field (I’ll) see 

what I can do to help out 
in the outfield,” Stew-
art said. “Continue to 
build on that defensive 
side of my game … and 
be a guy that can drive 
some balls into the gap 
… whatever I can do to 
get this team to be suc-
cessful.”

Stewart has been a 

large part of the Wol-
verines’ 
offensive 

explosion 
in 
recent 

weeks, and Stewart is 

enjoying this special chance from 
a whole new angle.

“There is much more appre-

ciation for still being able to 
play,” Stewart said. “I’ve gotten 
this revived chance this year to 
come over and help this team. … 
It’s been fun, I think I definitely 
appreciate the little things a lot 
more.”

Nevertheless, while he has 

been enjoying his time at Michi-
gan, he still hasn’t forgotten his 
old friends in East Lansing.

“That’s a game that will be 

circled on my calendar,” Stewart 
said. “(I have) a lot of friends over 
there. … It’s gonna be really fun to 
compete with those guys. … I’m 
looking forward to it.”

Stewart’s familiarity and good 

relationship with the Spartans 
will undoubtedly bring a fresh 
twist to the mid-April rivalry 
bouts between the two teams.

Stewart’s career in college 

baseball reflects the connec-
tions to both schools that many 
in Michigan possess. Just like his 
attitude towards baseball helps 
encourage his teammates to per-
form on the field, his attitude 
towards the rivalry also shows 
how these connections can often 
bring people together and offer 
the chance for new experiences. 

And Stewart is enthusiastic to 

experience it.

“Love Michigan State and all 

those guys,” Stewart said. “But it 
was awesome to get this oppor-
tunity to come here for my last 
year.”
Joe Stewart looks to lead the Michigan baseball team after playing for Michigan State.

Despite top tier hitting talent, 

the Michigan baseball team has 
not had the success they’ve hoped 
for.

Through the first 15 

games, the Wolverines are 
top 30 in the country in 
scoring and second in the 
Big Ten. However, they sit 
just one win above .500.

That means one thing — 

they can’t pitch.

Michigan can’t hold 

down a team for a full 
nine innings. The only 
game where the Wolver-
ines kept their opponent 
under four runs was an 8-2 vic-
tory against a sluggish 1-12 Seton 
Hall.

“We just haven’t played a com-

plete game yet,” Michigan coach 
Erik Bakich said. “You know, 
we’ve had some games where 
we scored a lot of runs, but we’ve 
also given up a lot of runs.”

It gets worse when you dive 

deeper into the pitching num-
bers. Among the seven arms 
who’ve seen the most innings, 
the average ERA is a woeful 5.35. 
Michigan is third to last in the 
Big Ten in walk frequency and 
fifth to last in hit frequency.

Letting that many men on 

base is not sustainable. It sets 
the team up for failure and late 
game collapses regularly, like 
those against No. 17 Texas Tech 

Michigan earns first No. 3 
seed in program history

MARK PATRICK

Daily Sports Writer

After losing four of its last six 

games, the Michigan women’s 
basketball team awaited the fate 
of potentially not hosting home 
games in the NCAA Tournament.

That fate was put to rest Sunday 

night, as the Wolverines earned a 
No. 3 seed — their highest seed in 
program history — in the Wich-
ita region. Being a top-four seed 
allows the team to host the first 
two rounds of the NCAA Tourna-
ment. 

“To be a three seed, that’s pretty 

awesome,” Michigan coach Kim 
Barnes Arico said. “Being able 
to host and get another game at 
Crisler (Center) for our senior class 
that has meant (so much) to us is 
really special.” 

Michigan’s first game will be 

against No. 14 seed American on 
Saturday. If the Wolverines win, 
they will face either No. 6 BYU or 
No. 11 Villanova on Monday.

Fresh off winning the Patriot 

League tournament champion-
ship, the Eagles present a tough 
challenge. After starting the sea-
son 11-6, American has won 12 of 
its last 14 games. This is in large 
part due to its defense holding 
opponents to just 56 points per 

game — 33rd best in the nation. 
The team is led by senior guard 
Jade Edwards. The versatile 
guard does it all for the Eagles, 
leading the team in points, min-
utes, rebounds, steals and blocks. 

“They’re a great program, 

always successful in their league 
and have a really good coach,” 
Barnes Arico said. 

After starting the season 20-2, 

Michigan struggled down the 
stretch. It went out in the first 
round of the Big Ten tournament 
to Nebraska, losing 76-73, mak-
ing its seeding more precarious. 
After the Wolverines were up 
six with five minutes left in the 
game, the Cornhuskers ended 
the game on a 9-2 run, crushing 
their hopes of a Big Ten tourna-
ment championship. 

The No. 3 seed has much to do 

with the Wolverines early sea-
son success. The team started 
the season 7-0 for the second 
straight year. After losing to the 
Cornhuskers 79-58, Michigan 
compiled an eight-game win 
streak with wins coming against 
Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana, and 
Maryland. The team was par-
ticularly successful at home fin-
ishing the year 12-0 at the Crisler 
Center.

“We’re undefeated at home 

this year and I think that’s in 

large part due to our fan base 
and the support that we’ve got-
ten throughout the course of the 
season,” Barnes Arico said. 

Looking to win its first regu-

lar season Big Ten championship 
for the first time in program his-
tory, things began to turn for the 
worse. A combination of injuries 
and inconsistencies on offense 
and defense led the Wolverines 
to losses in four of their last six 
games. It’s possible they would 
have had a No. 1 or No. 2 seed if 
not for the late season sputter. 

Michigan has an opportunity 

to make program history in the 
NCAA Tournament. After being 
so close to capturing a regular 
season Big Ten title and losing 
in the first round of the Big Ten 
Tournament, 
the 
Wolverines 

look to advance past the Sweet 
Sixteen for the first time in pro-
gram history.

“(We’re) just really embracing 

this moment and being excited 
because there’s no guarantees,” 
Barnes Arico said. “So just have 
an appreciation for being able to 
still be competing, when so many 
other people are going home at 
this point, and so many people 
are disappointed, but really put 
themselves in a position to con-
tinue to play.”

and Florida Atlantic. Both games 
ended in multiple-run bottom-
of-the-ninth comebacks.

All of the mistakes 

came to a head in the 
Wolverines’ latest game 
— their 13-1 loss against 
Louisville. 
The 
Car-

dinals’ 
bats 
punished 

Michigan’s pitchers all 
game, and they were 
only held scoreless for 
one inning.

The 
Wolverines’ 

pitchers cost them more 
than just at the plate. 
Michigan has an average 

fielding unit that sits sixth in the 
conference in fielding percent-
age, but many of the mistakes 
they make are connected to the 
pitching.

“If you’re walking a lot of peo-

ple, the defense is going to be on 
their heels because they’re not as 
actively engaged,” Bakich said. 
“… So I think that the trust and 
the reliability of both sides there 
just needs to sync up and have a 
great synergy.”

The main fielding woes came 

in Greenville against East Caro-
lina. The defense held up for 
most of the game, but the two-
run loss was caused by two big 
rallies, both of which had their 
momentum heavily aided by 
errors.

This defensive start is not 

JOSEPH 

ZAIN 

RODGER

optimal, but it’s far too early to 
discount the Wolverines from a 
deep postseason run. The Wol-
verines have the fourth hardest 
strength of schedule in the Big 
Ten. Bakich wants the team to 
face adversity early so they can 
be prepared for tougher battles.

“We’ve been here before. 

Every year when we sched-
ule really tough competition it 
seems to be a little bit of a back 
and forth and up and down,” 
Bakich said. “We’re scheduling 
teams that are all going to be in 
the postseason.”

It’s still a very young season. 

Once the home games and Big 
Ten series finally start, it’s very 
possible that the team starts to 
roll if they fix their mistakes.

That’s a very big if. 
If the season ended today, 

Michigan’s pitching staff would 
have its worst combined ERA in 
over 10 years.

“It’s one thing to talk about 

achieving your goals week to 
week, it’s another thing to do it,” 
said Bakich. “The bottom line is 
we just need to play better.”

Just like the teams they’ve 

scheduled to start the year, the 
Wolverines 
have 
postseason 

dreams of their own. If they 
want to compete, the pitching 
staff needs to figure it out.

If not, they’re in for a harsh 

wake-up call.

GRACE BEAL/Daily 

Michigan earns highest NCAA tournament ranking in program history, will face American in first round.

JENNA HICKEY/Daily 

Michigan’s pitching has struggled so far this season.

