Wolverines Top Anteaters, Give Harrison First Victory

Tuesday, February 26

Irvine, Calif.

6:05 PM PT

Michigan

1-4

California-Irvine

8-9

Michigan

UC Irvine

Wolverines Top Anteaters, Give Harrison First Victory

2/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. -- The University of Michigan baseball team grabbed the early lead and used pitching and defense to earn the first win for interim head coach Chris Harrison as the Wolverines defeated UC-Irvine by a 4-2 margin Tuesday night (Feb. 26) at Anteater Ballpark. Senior/junior 1B Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS) had a pair of run-scoring singles and freshman LHP Paul Hammond (Mason, Ohio/Mason HS) worked the final two innings for his first career save.

The Wolverines (1-4) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning as freshman SS Nick Rudden (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) notched his first career hit with a single to left-center, and he raced to third as senior DH Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) followed with his first career extra-base hit, a double to left. Freshman LF Dan Augustine (Wausau, Wis./West HS) knocked in Rudden with a sacrifice fly to left and Sokol singled in Korecky.

Junior RHP Tim Leveque (Northridge, Calif./Crespi HS) battled back in the bottom of the third inning when the first four Anteaters reached on a walk, two bunt singles and a run-scoring walk. With a 2-1 lead and the bases loaded with no outs and the 4-5-6 batters coming to the plate, Leveque struck out the first two and SS Rudden made a backhand play on a slow roller to end the threat.

Leveque (1-0) earned his first win of the season, working six innings. He allowing three hits, two bunts, with six strikeouts and six walks.

Rudden had several fielding gems as he assisted on the final out in four innings, including the third, fifth, eighth and ninth. He was the middle man on Sokol's 3-6-3 double play with the bases loaded in the eighth.

The Wolverines added a run in the fifth inning as Augustine walked, stole second base and scored on a triple to right-center by sophomore catcher Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS). It was the third triple of the season for Fox.

Korecky singled to start the seventh inning, stole second and scored on Sokol's second RBI-single of the game. Sokol grabbed the team RBI lead (6).

The Wolverines (1-4) will play at UC-Riverside (10-5) Wednesday (Feb. 27, 4 p.m. PST). Sophomore RHP Bobby Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) is slated to make his first start/appearance of the season vs. the Highlanders.

N O T E S

Michigan unveiled its first "All-Colorado" starting infield vs. UC-Irvine. All three of the Colorado natives on the team started on the infield with Brock Koman at 3B, Nick Rudden at SS and Jordan Cantalamessa at second base.

Michigan preseason All-America 3B Brock Koman had his hitting streak snapped at eight games in the win at UC-Irvine.

Sophomore RF Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS), with a double in the eighth inning, is the lone Wolverine to have hits in all five games this year.

Michigan's hitting leaders after the five games (10 at-bat minimum) include: senior RHP/2B Bobby Korecky (.455, 5-for-11); 3B Brock Koman (.389, 7-for-18); sophomore RF/DH Brandon Roberts (.333, 5-for-15); junior CF Gino Lollio (.312, 5-for-16) and sophomore C Jake Fox (.286, 4-for-14).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423