Pinch Homer Gives Kansas Comeback Win Over U-M

Friday, March 22

Lawrence, Kan.

2:00 PM CT

Michigan

3-11

Kansas

11-8

Michigan

Kansas

3/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas sophomore OF Adam Rachlin's two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the host Jayhawks a 9-7 win over the University of Michigan baseball team Friday afternoon (March 22) at Hoglund Ballpark. Rachlin's first career homer capped a wild ninth inning that featured seven runs and a pair of comebacks.

Wolverine senior co-captain Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) worked the complete game and suffered the loss. Ironically, in a game that Korecky threw more than 150 pitches to take the loss, Kansas used a pair of first-year transfers involved with just two pitches each to win the game. Rachlin hit the second pitch he saw for the homer and junior RHP Ryan Jakubov threw just two pitches in the top of the ninth to get credit for his first career win.

The Wolverines (3-11) scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 7-5 lead and put Korecky in position for the win. Junior RF Gino Lollio (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS) opened the ninth with his third hit of the game and senior/junior co-captain Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS) followed with a walk. Following a wild pitch, the excitement continued when junior SS Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) ripped a grounder to third that became a 5-2 out at the plate.

With runners on first and third and one out, sophomore LF Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS) tied the game with an infield groundout. Roberts leads the team with 12 RBI.

Junior 3B Brandon Jominy (Coral Springs, Fla./Westminster Academy), who had entered the game as a defensive replacement, drew a walk and senior/junior co-captain 1B Nate Wright (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew HS) launched a two-run double to left, giving Michigan the lead.

Kansas (11-8) snapped an eight-game losing streak with the four-run rally that included a walk, two opposite-field singles and the homer by Rachlin. Kansas had taken the early lead in the bottom of the first inning when leading hitter RF Matt Trimble hit his fifth homer of the season.

The Wolverines took a 3-1 lead in the third, collecting five hits in the inning. Junior CF Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) reached second on a bunt single and a throwing error and he scored on a single by Lollio. Roberts and sophomore 3B Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS) had RBI singles in the rally.

Lollio's second RBI single snapped a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning. Kansas tied the game in the seventh and took a 5-4 lead in the eighth to set up the wild rallies in the ninth.

Michigan had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning when Wright and junior catcher Alex Coleman (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS) were on second and third with two outs. They had reached on singles and advanced on a ground out. Rutkowski blooped a fly to center that was ruled a hit by the second base umpire from his standing position near the base. However, the third base umpire running full speed from the leftfield line called the diving attempt by Kansas CF Lance Hayes a catch for third out of the inning.

The Wolverines continue the weekend in Lawrence, Kan., facing Oral Roberts (12-8) on Saturday (March 23, 3 p.m. CST) with junior LHP Rich Hill (Milton, Mass./Milton HS) on the mound. Hill is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

N O T E S

RF Gino Lollio paced the Wolverines with his three hits vs. Kansas. It was Lollio's 22nd career multiple-hit game and his third three-hit contest.

Junior 3B/SS Brock Koman has reached base all 14 games this season and 22 in a row over the last two seasons.

The loss for Bobby Korecky at Kansas came in his second complete game of the season. Korecky has completed 15 of his 27 career starts. He is 1-1 vs. Kansas with two complete games in his career.

Korecky pitched 8.2 innings in his complete-game loss at Kansas and raised his career innings pitched total to 231.2, moving him into 10th place on Michigan's career list. He moved ahead of former Major League lefty Jim Burton (228.1, 1969-71). Next in line is former Wolverine Major Leaguer Jim Abbott (234.1, 1986-88).

Korecky has made five pitching appearances thus far in 2002 and he has pitched in 56 games for the Wolverines in his career. He is tied for 10th place in career pitching appearances as a Wolverine with former Michigan Major Leaguers Steve Ontiveros (56, 1980-82) and Gary Wayne (56, 1981-84).

Michigan's hitting leaders after 14 games (13 at-bat minimum) include: junior catcher Jason Wuerfel (Cedar, Mich./Glen Lake HS) at .357 (5-for-14); 3B/SS Brock Koman (.351, 20-for-57); sophomore LF Brandon Roberts (.333, 15-for-45); junior OF Gino Lollio (.308, 16-for-52); sophomore 3B Jake Fox (.278, 10-for-36); and senior/junior Mike Sokol (.271, 16-for-59).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423