Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverines Split with Gophers in Offensive Outbursts
4/17/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Site:Â Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Scores:Â Michigan 13, #23 Minnesota 12; #23 Minnesota 15, Michigan 14
Records:Â Michigan (21-18, 8-7 Big Ten), Minnesota (26-9, 8-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game:Â Sunday, April 18 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1 p.m. CDT
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan pounded out 37 hits, scored 27 runs and tallied in 11 of the 14 innings played in a baseball doubleheader against Minnesota on Saturday (April 17), but it all added up to just a split with the 23rd-ranked Golden Gophers. The Wolverines took game one 13-12 but dropped the nightcap 15-14 as Minnesota scored the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh. The teams combined for 54 runs and 70 hits and used 14 pitchers.
Mike Cervenak (New Boston, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child HS) went 7-for-10 with a home run and five RBIs in the twinbill, while Bobby Scales (Roswell, Ga./Milton HS) had six hits in 10 at-bats, scored four times and drove in four runs. Jason Alcaraz (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado HS) added four hits, including two home runs.
Michigan (21-18, 8-7 Big Ten) scored in every inning of the opener, with Alcaraz smacking a two-run homer in the first and adding another two-run blast in the three-run sixth. The Wolverines scored twice in the seventh to go up 13-8, but with the wind blowing out, no lead was safe. The Golden Gophers (26-9, 8-3 Big Ten) scored four runs on five hits in the seventh to pull within one, but with runners on first and third, rightfielder Alcaraz preserved the win by tracking down Jon Nuss' shot to the right-center gap to end the game.
Wolverine starter Bryce Ralston (Tacoma, Wash./Curtis HS) improved to 5-1 with the win despite allowing eight runs and 10 hits in five innings. Nick Alexander (Alpena, Mich./Alpena HS) got the final out for his second save. Every spot in the Michigan lineup except the designated hitter had at least two hits, with Scales and Cervenak both recording three-hit outings.
Michigan's offense continued to click in game two as the Wolverines erupted for seven runs in the first inning, sending 11 batters to the plate. Scales had a pair of singles in the inning, Mike Seestedt (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Sacred Heart HS) drove in two runs with a base hit and Cervenak drilled a two-run homer to left to highlight the frame.
The Wolverines added another run on a Cervenak RBI single in the second to lead 8-0, but pitcher Vince Pistilli (Highland, Ind./Highland HS), the reigning Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Week, could not keep the Minnesota offense in check. The Gophers scored four in the second and three in the third to make it an 8-7 game, and after Michigan padded its lead with three runs in the fourth, Minnesota got one in the bottom of the inning and chased Pistilli with three in the fifth to tie it up 11-11.
Minnesota scored three more runs in the sixth to lead 14-11, and Michigan looked finished in the seventh as Vince Gangl retired the first two hitters on flyouts. But the Wolverines strung together five straight hits, including RBI singles by Cevenak, Bryan Besco (Westland, Mich./John Glenn HS) and David Parrish (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS), to knot up the score at 14-all.
After a two-base error by the shortstop and a walk to open the ninth, Minnesota loaded the bases when Mark Devore's sacrifice attempt went for a bunt single. Matt Scanlon followed with a grounder in the hole between first and second, and Scales' throw to the plate was too late to prevent the winning run from scoring. It was Scanlon's fifth RBI of the game and his 11th of the doubleheader.
Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) was saddled with the loss, giving up three runs (one earned) in an inning of work. Seven Wolverines had two or more hits, led by Cervenak with four and Scales and Brian Bush (Warren, Ohio/Howland HS) with three apiece.
Cervenak and Alcaraz both moved up among Michigan's career hits leaders. Cervenak's seven hits give him 256 for his career, raising him from third to second, while Alcaraz's four-hit day moved him from fifth to fourth, with 241 hits. Ken Hayward (267, 1982-85) holds the U-M record. Cervenak also moved up on the career RBI list as his five Saturday gave him 155 for his career, good for a tie for fourth.
The Wolverines will send senior RHP Luke Bonner (Taylor, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child HS) to the hill Sunday for the series finale, scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT.
