Wolverines Fall 3-1 to Jacksonville State in Opener

Friday, February 25

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:00 PM

Michigan

0-1

Jacksonville State

8-2

Jacksonville State

Michigan

2/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jim Schneider

Site: Jacksonville, Fla. (Harmon Stadium)
Event: Kennel Club Classic
Score: Jacksonville State 3, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (0-1), JSU (8-2)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Feb. 26 -- at Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.), 1 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Two Jacksonville (Ala.) State pitchers combined for 21 strikeouts as the Gamecocks collected a 3-1 win over the University of Michigan in the 2000 baseball opener for the Wolverines Friday night (Feb. 25) in Harmon Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida.

JSU starting pitcher Bill White recorded 12 strikeouts while moving his record to 3-0, while reliever Joey Sheflett had nine Ks and notched his second save of the season for the Gamecocks (8-2). The Wolverines (0-1) countered with seven strikeouts each from junior RHP Vince Pistilli (Highland, Ind./Highland HS) -- the starter and loser -- and freshman LHP Rich Hill (Milton, Mass./Milton HS).

Pitching dominated the game as evidenced by the 35 total strikeouts, the fact each team had just five hits and that there was just one run batted in. However, the RBI was the game-winner on a bases-loaded single by JSU catcher Brandon Stripling to snap a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning.

The Wolverines opened the scoring in the first inning after two outs when junior catcher David Parrish (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) drew a four-pitch walk after two strikeouts, moved to third on a single by senior rightfielder Jay Dines (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia HS) and scored on a wild pitch.

JSU tied the game in the fourth on a two-out double by leftfielder Jason Nunn and a pair of wild pitches by Pistilli. The Gamecocks scored the winning runs in the sixth inning on two walks, two singles and a double-play grounder.

Hill made his Michigan "hill debut" as he replaced Pistilli in the sixth, and he allowed just one hit while recording his seven strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief.

The Wolverines return to action on Saturday (Feb. 26) with a 1 p.m. contest vs. Jacksonville University at Alexander Brest Field.

N O T E S

• Freshman CF Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) and freshman 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) each collected his first career hit in the opening loss to Jacksonville State. Rutkowski, who went 2-for-3 with a walk in his career debut, beat out a bunt single in the fifth inning and Koman led off the sixth with a single.

• Sophomore RHP Bobby Wood (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) will make his Wolverine debut Saturday (Feb. 26) at Jacksonville University vs. the Dolphins. Wood was 2-6 as a freshman at Santa Clara in 1999.

• The first Michigan hit of the year 2000 was single to right by senior RF Jay Dines.

• A pair of former Detroit Tiger All-Star catchers -- ex-Michigan baseball coach Bill Freehan and Lance Parrish, father of Michigan preseason All-American backstop David Parrish -- were in attendance at the game.