Error-Prone Wolverines Drop Twinbill to Minnesota

Saturday, March 25

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

6-10-1, 0-2

Minnesota

9-11, 2-0

Minnesota

Michigan

3/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ray Fisher Stadium)
Score: Minnesota 8, Michigan 0; Minnesota 9, Michigan 5
Record: U-M (6-11-1, 0-3 Big Ten); Minnesota (10-11, 3-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, March 26 -- vs. Minnesota (Ray Fisher Stadium), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Minnesota took advantage of Michigan's defense, got timely hitting from sophomore 3B Jack Hannahan and two excellent outings by starting pitchers Ben Birk and Chadd Clarey to sweep a Big Ten Conference baseball doubleheader from Michigan, 8-0 and 9-5, on Saturday (March 25) at Ray Fisher Stadium. The Wolverines (6-11-1, 0-3 Big Ten) made 11 errors in the doubleheader, including six in the second game.

Hannahan paced Minnesota (10-11, 3-0 Big Ten), going 2-for-4 in each game. He had two doubles and a homer, scored four times and drove in three runs to pace the Minnesota offense. Junior LHP Birk fired a one-hitter in the opener, while Clarey allowed three runs in his six-inning outing in the nightcap. Birk, who missed all of the 1999 season due to injury, notched his first win of the season and ninth of his career.

Junior catcher David Parrish (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) was the lone pest in the Wolverine lineup Saturday. Parrish broke up Birk's no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the fourth inning of the opener, and he had a three-run double off Clarey in the third inning of the second game. Parrish is 4-for-10 in the series with a double and a homer, and he has driven in five of the eight Michigan runs. He leads the team with 18 RBI and has knocked in 75 runs in his career.

Minnesota had a pair of four-run innings in the opener against Michigan senior LHP Bryan Cranson (Bronson, Mich./Bronson HS). Cranson (2-2) was charged with all eight runs in the opener, but only one was earned. Minnesota catcher Jeremy Negen had a two-run double in the second inning and Hannahan capped the fifth with a three-run homer.

Freshman RHP Tim Leveque (Northridge, Calif./Crespi HS) took the loss in the second game, working the first two innings. He faced five batters in the third inning and all eventually scored.

Minnesota CF Mike Arlt's two-run doubled chased Leveque in the third inning and sophomore RF Jason Kennedy had a two-run single off junior LHP Nick Alexander (Alpena, Mich./Alpena HS). Alexander settled down and worked the final five innings, allowing just one earned run and lowering his ERA to 3.00. He has 11 strikeouts in 12 innings.

Michigan and Minnesota close out the weekend series Sunday (March 26, 1 p.m.) with sophomore RHP Bobby Wood (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) making his first Ray Fisher Stadium start. Wood, a transfer from Santa Clara, is 0-1 with 6.97 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10.1 innings.

N O T E S

Sophomore LHP/1B Jeff Trzos (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS) made his first start at first base this season and went 1-for-4. Trzos, who has pitched this season, made his first base debut on Friday (March 24) vs. Minnesota. He is hitting .400 (2-for-5). As a pitcher Trzos is 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in nine innings.

Michigan's leading hitters after Saturday's doubleheader include: freshman 3B Brock Koman (.357, 25-for-70), senior OF Rob Bobeda (.294, 20-for-68), David Parrish (.292, 19-for-65), junior 2B/SS Scott Tousa (.288, 17-for-59) and Kevin Quinn (.263, 10-for-38).

The double for David Parrish was his first of the year and extended his hit streak to four games. Parrish has 23 doubles and 19 homers in his 106 games as a Wolverine.

The shutout suffered by the Wolverines was the first in 69 games, since losing 4-0 to Southern Illinois in Homestead, Fla., last March 14, and the six errors were the most since committing seven in a 14-4 loss vs. Notre Dame last season in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The complete-game one-hitter by Minnesota's Ben Birk in Saturday's opener was the first thrown against Michigan in Ray Fisher Stadium since John Lowery of Minnesota beat the Wolverines 4-1 on April 12, 1992.

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423