Michigan
Central Michigan
Alcaraz, Besco Provide U-M Offense Backing Cranson
3/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ray Fisher Stadium)
Scores:Â Michigan 7, Central Michigan 3
Records:Â U-M (12-11), CMU (4-14)
Next U-M Game:Â Wednesday, March 31 -- at Detroit (Detroit, Mich.), 3 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Seniors Jason Alcaraz (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado HS) and Bryan Besco (Westland, Mich./John Glenn HS) provided the "triple-double" offense and junior lefty Bryan Cranson (Bronson, Mich./Bronson HS) pitched six innings as the University of Michigan baseball team won its home opener over Central Michigan, 7-3 on Tuesday (March 30).
The Wolverines (12-11) have won three straight and six of the last seven to move over the .500 mark for the first time since losing three games at Pepperdine to close out the spring trip to California.
Cranson pitched the first six innings to record his second straight victory of the season. Cranson (2-3) allowed four hits and three runs, all earned, as he dropped his ERA to 4.97. The "triple-double" offense included Alcaraz collecting two triples, while Besco had two doubles. Alcaraz knocked in three runs and leads the team with 24 RBIs.
Michigan jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Bobby Scales (Roswell, Ga./Milton HS) reached on a bunt single to open the bottom of the first and scored on Besco's two-out, fly-ball double. Senior outfielder Brian Bush (Warren, Ohio/Howland HS) singled in Besco.
CMU catcher Hudson Whitmore's two-out, two-run single knotted the score in the top of the second as the Chippewas took advantage of three walks after two were out.
The Wolverines used some two-out offense in the bottom of the second inning as Alcaraz and senior 3B Mike Cervenak (New Boston, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child HS) stroked back-to-back run-scoring triples and Besco added his second two-out double to drive in the fifth 'M' run.
Alcaraz added insurance in the sixth inning, closing out the scoring with a two-run triple.
Senior RHP J.J. Putz (Trenton, Mich./Trenton HS) (7th & 8th) and freshman RHP Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) (9th) worked the final three innings, allowing two hits and fanning three.
The Wolverines travel to Detroit Mercy for a single game on Wednesday (March 31) at 3 p.m., with sophomore lefty Nick Alexander (Alpena, Mich./Alpena HS) expected to make the start. Alexander is 1-0 with a 10.38 ERA.
NOTES
• Seniors Mike Cervenak and Jason Alcaraz each added hits in the CMU game as they continue to climb the Michigan all-time hit list. Cervenak ranks fourth with 237 hits, three shy of Casey Close (240 hits, 1983-86) in third place. Alcaraz is fifth with 220 hits. The Michigan career hit leader is Ken Hayward (267 hits, 1982-85).
• Alcaraz with a pair of triples vs. CMU has moved into a three-way tie for ninth place on the 'M' career triples list with Scott Weaver (10, 1993-95) and Kurt Zimmerman (10, 1983-86). The record is 19 set by Mike Watters (1983-85).
• Bryan Besco with his two doubles jumped into a ninth-place tie on the 'M' career doubles list with Bill St. Peter (37, 1986-88).
• Bobby Scales, who had a 12-game hitting streak to open the season, extended his current streak to eight games. Scales has at least one hit in 21 of the 23 games this season. In each of the two games he was held hitless, Scales went 0-for-2 with two walks. Scales leads the team with 14 walks and has scored 24 runs in 23 games.
• Alcaraz leads the Wolverines with 24 RBIs and he moved his career total to 125. Alcaraz is one shy of Chris Sabo's (1981-83) total of 126 RBIs, which is good for 11th on the all-time 'M' RBI list. Teammate Cervenak, who has 17 RBIs this season, has 134 career RBIs and is in eighth place, two shy of Barry Larkin (136, 1983-85).
• Strange Scoring Play: CMU had two outs and Scott Pieratt on second base in the seventh inning when CMU first baseman Brian Issitt sent a grounder up the middle for an infield single. Michigan's Scales ran the ball down from second base and saved a run as he scooped up the ball and fired to catcher David Parrish (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS). Pieratt had rounded third attempting to score but stopped and actually evaded a tag by third baseman Cervenak up the line. However, 'M' shortstop Scott Tousa (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS) came diving over to cover the bag and took Cervenak's short toss for the putout. Scoring: your basic 4-2-5-6 play at third base.
