Buckeyes Hang on to Sweep Wolverines in Twinbill

Saturday, May 12

Columbus, Ohio

4:05 PM

Michigan

26-24, 10-12

Ohio State

39-14, 18-7

Michigan

Ohio State

5/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Scores: #25 Ohio State 2, Michigan 0; #25 Ohio State 10, Michigan 7
Records: U-M (26-25, 10-13 Big Ten), OSU (40-14, 19-7 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, May 13 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1:05 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Michigan baseball team put the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning twice, but Ohio State swept the Big Ten doubleheader Saturday (May 12) at Bill Davis Stadium, 2-0 and 10-7.

The Wolverines (26-25, 10-13 Big Ten) are still in the race for the final playoff position as Minnesota swept Northwestern in Minneapolis, Penn State swept Michigan State, and Illinois split at home with Indiana. PSU clinched a playoff berth, while MSU was eliminated. Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern are battling for the fifth and sixth playoff spots. A U-M win Sunday would guarantee the Wolverines a postseason berth.

Ohio State's Kevin Goodrum (6-1) outdueled Michigan junior RHP Bobby Wood (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) in the opener, shutting out the Wolverines for the first time this season. Wood's record dropped to 4-3.

The Buckeyes (40-14, 19-7 Big Ten) scored solo runs in the fourth and sixth innings in the opener and won with great defense in the seventh inning that included a diving catch by defensive replacement Steve Caravati in rightfield for the first out, and he then turned a potential pinch single into a 9-6 fielder's choice.

Michigan scored five runs in the third inning of game two to take a 6-3 lead. Sophomore 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) hit his team-leading 12th homer to highlight the inning that included six hits. However, OSU scored five runs in the fourth and added two in the fifth for the win.

Freshman RHP Jim Brauer (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) went 3.1 innings and allowed six runs in the start, while senior LHP Nick Alexander (Alpena, Mich./Alpena HS) took the loss in relief.

Trailing 10-6 in the seventh inning of game two, the Wolverines collected singles by sophomore CF Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS), junior/sophomore DH Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS) and Koman and scored a run, but OSU's Brandon Steen closed out his three-inning save with a strikeout. Kyle Blachuta (3-1) took the win in relief.

Koman had four hits in the doubleheader, including a double and his 12th homer, as Michigan outhit Ohio State 21-14 on the day but lost twice. Sokol was 2-for-5 with a double and he scored a run and drove in another.

Michigan and OSU close out the series Sunday (May 13, 1:05 p.m.) with sophomore RHP Tim Leveque (Northridge, Calif./Crespi HS) as U-M's tentative starter. Leveque is 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA.

N O T E S

Scott Tousa had one hit vs. OSU in the doubleheader Saturday, pushing his career hit total to 209 and tying him for eighth on the all-time Michigan hit list with Tim Flannelly (209 hits, 1983-85). Next up is Phil Price (215 hits, 1987-90).

Tousa added seven more career at bats in the twinbill at OSU to move his career at bat total to 676, moving ahead of Bobby Scales (674, 1996-99) and Phil Price (674, 1987-90) for sixth place. Next is Jim Paciorek (677, 1979-82) in fifth place and former teammate Bryan Besco (679, 1995-99).

Tousa has played in 199 games and needs one more to become the ninth Wolverine to play 200 games.

Senior LHP Nick Alexander, who pitched in both games Saturday, moved his career pitching appearances to 61 and climbed into sixth on Michigan's all-time pitching appearance list as he tied and moved ahead of Mark Temple (60, 1993-96) on Saturday. Alexander's 61 appearances ranks first among Michigan left-handers.

Michigan's hitting leaders (for players with at least 80 at bats) after 51 games are: sophomore 3B Brock Koman (.384, 68-for-177); junior/sophomore 1B Nate Wright (.327, 49-for-150); sophomore OF Gino Lollio (.322, 37-for-115); senior 2B Scott Tousa (.321, 59-for-184); sophomore LF Jordan Cantalamessa (.314, 48-for-153); sophomore CF Blake Rutkowski (.308, 28-for-91); and freshman catcher Jake Fox (.303, 43-for-142).

Big Ten Standings (after Saturday's Games)

 1. Purdue 17-6 .739 2. Ohio State 19-7 .731 3. Minnesota 18-8 .692 4. Penn State 14-11 .560 5. Illinois 12-14 .462 6. MICHIGAN 10-13 .435 7. Northwestern 11-16 .407 8. Michigan State 9-16 .360 9. Iowa 7-15 .318 10. Indiana 7-18 .280

Saturday Scores
Ohio State 2-10, Michigan 0-7
Penn State 6-8, Michigan State 3-7 (second game 8 inn.)
Minnesota 7-8, Northwestern 0-3
Illinois 3-7, Indiana 2-10
Purdue 8, Iowa 1

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423