Michigan
Penn State
Lions Escape from Alcaraz in Regular-Season Finale
5/16/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Site:Â State College, Pa. (Beaver Field)
Score:Â Penn State 15, Michigan 13
Records:Â U-M (29-27, 15-13 Big Ten), PSU (32-23, 12-15 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game:Â Thursday, May 20 -- at Big Ten Tournament (Columbus, Ohio)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- University of Michigan senior Jason Alcaraz (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado HS) went 5-for-5 and tied a league record with three doubles but it was not enough as the Wolverine baseballers dropped their final regular-season game, 15-13 to Penn State at Beaver Stadium.
The loss dropped Michigan's record to 29-27 on the season and 15-13 in the Big Ten. Penn State finished the year with a 32-23 record, 12-15 in the conference. Despite dropping three of four to the Nittany Lions, the Wolverines still qualified for the four-team Big Ten Tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday (May 20-23) in Columbus, Ohio.
Alcaraz put on a hitting clinic, adding a walk, a run scored and three RBIs to his career-high five hits. He recorded a double in the first inning, an RBI single in the third, a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, a double in the fifth, an infield single in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth.
After falling behind 6-0, Michigan made things interesting with a three-run third inning and seven-run fourth inning to grab a 10-6 lead. But Penn State plated five runs in its half of the fourth to take the lead. After Michigan tied the game with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Penn State went ahead to stay with a three-run eighth inning.
The Wolverines got contributions from most of the lineup as eight starters collected hits, eight scored at least one run and six Wolverines drove in at least one run. Derek Besco (Westland, Mich./John Glenn HS), who was walked three of the five times he batted, finished the game 1-for-2 with a double, run scored and two RBIs, while Brian Bush (Warren, Ohio/Howland HS) went 2-for-5 with a triple, run scored and three RBIs.
Alcaraz's three doubles raised his career total to 51 and moved him into third place on Michigan's all-time list, just two shy of second-place Phil Price (1987-90). Alcaraz also moved up on the career hits list, passing Jim Paciorek (254 hits, 1979-82) for third place, with 256 hits.
Michigan will play in the Big Ten Tournament for the third time in Geoff Zahn's four years as head coach. The Wolverines (15-13 Big Ten) will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed depending on how Illinois (15-12 Big Ten) fares in its home game against Purdue on Monday (May 17). Big Ten champion Ohio State is the host and top seed, while Minnesota is the No. 2 seed.
