Unearned Runs Allow Penn State to Gain Weekend Split

Sunday, April 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

21-18, 9-9

Penn State

16-21, 10-10

Penn State

Michigan

4/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Penn State senior LF Wes Reohr's two-out, two-run homer in the sixth inning snapped a 4-4 tie and proved to be the margin of victory as the Nittany Lions beat the University of Michigan baseball team 6-4 Sunday afternoon (April 27) to gain a weekend split in the Big Ten series. Reohr was 3-for-5 and knocked in four of the six runs in the win for Penn State (16-21, 10-10 Big Ten).

Michigan (9-9), Penn State (10-10) and Indiana (10-10) are tied for fourth place in the Big Ten with three weekends to play. Indiana plays four games at Penn State next weekend (May 2-4), while Michigan heads to Columbus, Ohio, to play second-place Ohio State.

It was the Wolverines (21-18, 9-9 Big Ten) who roared out of the gate in the first inning as senior centerfielder Gino Lollio (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS) blasted a long homer leading off the game for a 1-0 lead off Penn State starting pitcher Jim Farrell (4-2). The homer was Lollio's fifth of the season and second in consecutive at-bats vs. PSU, including his game-winning homer in the second game of Saturday's (April 26) doubleheader.

Farrell then hit sophomore DH Nick Rudden (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) and senior 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) in a three-pitch span, setting up a crucial moment in the game.

Junior catcher Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS), who reached base 10 times in the series, launched a drive that slammed off the fence in deep right-center. Rudden, who had been tagging, scored from second to make the score 2-0, but Koman had to stop at third. Meanwhile, Fox steamed into third with what he thought was a two-run triple, but he found Koman on the base and moments later he was tagged out for the first out of the inning.

With Koman on third, the next batter, fifth-year senior 1B Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS) hit a line shot that was snagged by PSU 3B Mike Milliron, and he beat Koman to the base for an unassisted double play to end the inning and keep the score 2-0.

Penn State (16-21, 10-10) scored four unearned runs in the top of the second inning off Wolverine sophomore RHP Phil Tognetti (Newhall, Calif./Hart HS). After a walk and a two-base throwing error on a double-play grounder put runners on second and third with no outs, the Wolverine defense came up with a running catch of a foul fly by junior Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS) in right and a fine 2-3 play by Fox to keep the runner at third to record the out at first.

However, a walk followed by a two-run double by RF Brett Showalter tied the score at 2-2, and Reohr dumped a single into center for two more runs and a 4-2 PSU lead.

The Wolverines tied the game in the third inning as freshman 2B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS) opened the frame with a single and moved to second as Lollio drew a walk. Rudden moved the runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt and Koman's sacrifice fly cut the lead to 4-3. Fox drew an intentional walk and Sokol dropped a single to center to tie the game at 4-4.

The Wolverines had their final chance in the fourth inning as Roberts hit his fourth double of the series to start the inning, but then 3B Milliron made his second great defensive play of the game and it kept the score 4-4 as he dove to his right to knock down the double bid by freshman shortstop Jeremy Goldschmeding (Martin, Mich./Allegan HS). Goldschmeding got credit for a single, but Roberts was unable to advance to third, and he would have scored if the ball had gotten past the diving Milliron.

Scheidt moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt and the Wolverines got another break when Lollio's pop in short rightfield was dropped for an error that loaded the bases. However, Farrell then took over as he fanned Rudden and got Koman on a bouncer to third as Milliron juggled the ball for a moment and then fired to first for the out.

Goldschmeding's single to third was the sixth and final hit for the Wolverines as Farrell allowed just two walks (Fox and Goldschmeding) over the last 18 batters and he retired the final 11 in a row to close out the win.

The winning rally came in the sixth and included a single by catcher Matt Harter, a force play, a sacrifice bunt and Reohr's fly-ball homer to left.

Michigan faces Notre Dame in the annual Baseball Bash Tuesday (April 29, 7:30 p.m.) in Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps, Class A Midwest League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The game is played in Comstock Park, Mich., in the suburbs of Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids alumni clubs of both Michigan and Notre Dame sponsor the annual event. Sophomore LHP Drew Taylor (Toronto, Ontario/Upper Canada College), with a 4-1 record and a 4.89 ERA, is listed as the probable starter vs. Notre Dame.

N O T E S

In other Big Ten action Sunday, Northwestern completed its weekend sweep of Illinois, 4-3, and Michigan State beat Iowa 11-7 to gain a weekend split. In the two doubleheaders Ohio State completed its weekend sweep at Purdue, winning 6-3 and 10-6, and Minnesota split at Indiana, winning the nightcap 10-2 to take three of four on the weekend. Indiana won Sunday's opener 2-0.

Big Ten Standings (after Sunday's Games)

 1. Minnesota 15-3 .833 2. Ohio State 14-6 .700 3. Northwestern 10-8 .556 4. MICHIGAN 9-9 .500 Penn State 10-10 .500 Indiana 10-10 .500 7. Purdue 8-11 .421 8. Illinois 8-12 .400 9. Michigan State 6-12 .333 10. Iowa 5-14 .263

Next Week's Big Ten Schedule (May 2-4): Michigan at Ohio State, Indiana at Penn State, Iowa at Northwestern, Michigan State at Illinois, Purdue at Minnesota.

Catcher Jake Fox was 4-for-9 in the series vs. Penn State and drew six walks to reach base 10 times in 15 plate appearances in the four games. In fact he reached base eight straight times starting with a run-scoring single in the third inning of Saturday's first game. Fox went 1B, HR, BB, BB, BB, 2B, IBB and BB, and the streak ended with a flyout in his last at-bat in the seventh inning. He drove in a run with each of the hits.

Fox leads the Wolverines in homers (11), RBI (46) and slugging percentage (.719).

Senior Gino Lollio had seven hits in the series, including a double, a triple and two homers.

Michigan's hitting leaders after 39 games include (70 plate appearances minimum): senior 3B Brock Koman at .392 (60-for-153), sophomore SS Nick Rudden (.384, 33-for-86), junior C Jake Fox (.367, 51-for-139), senior DH/OF/1B Mike Sokol (.363, 49-for-135) and senior OF Gino Lollio (.338, 51-for-151).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423