WMU Captures Centennial Celebration Contest Over U-M

Tuesday, May 6

Kalamazoo, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

25-20

Western Michigan

23-21

Michigan

Western Michigan

5/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan scored twice in the seventh inning and the Broncos defense turned a clutch double play in the eighth to beat Michigan 6-5 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday afternoon (May 6) at Hyames Field. The Centennial Celebration Game was one of the first events to commemorate WMU's 100th anniversary.

WMU (23-21) grabbed leads of 3-1, 4-3 and 6-4 and held off the visiting Wolverines (25-20) in an exciting game in which Bronco head coach Fred Decker, in his 28th season, got the best of Michigan's first-year head coach Rich Maloney. Decker was Maloney's mentor as the latter played for him and later served as an assistant coach for him.

The Wolverines jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first when senior 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) lined his eighth homer of the year over the fence in right-center. It marked the only lead for the Wolverines in the game in which they fought back to tie the score at 3-3 and 4-4.

WMU countered with three runs in the second, taking advantage of a passed ball, a throwing error, a run-scoring single by shortstop Adam Rosales and a sacrifice fly by 2B Steve Horn.

Michigan returned the favor by taking advantage of WMU's defense to tie the game with two outs in the fourth inning. Fifth-year senior 1B Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS) singled to center and raced around the bases when senior LF Jordan Cantalamessa (Castle Rock, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) dropped a bunt to the pitcher.

Cantalamessa reached on a throwing error by pitcher Mark Rasmussen, and when Sokol attempted to advance toward third base WMU 2B Horn fired the ball beyond third and out of the playing area. When the dust settled Sokol had scored and Cantalamessa was standing on third base. Junior RF Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS) dropped a single over Horn's head into rightfield and the score was tied at 3-3.

WMU took a 4-3 lead in the fourth after a leadoff walk and a run-scoring single by LF Matt Bolton.

The Wolverines bounced back in the sixth inning with the rally once again starting with two outs when Cantalamessa was hit by a pitch. He scored all the way from first base when Roberts doubled to left-center to tie the score again.

The Broncos came back again, this time scoring twice in the seventh inning, and the Michigan defense helped out again. WMU 3B Mark Abro collected an infield single that just eluded Wolverine freshman RHP Craig Murray (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South HS). Murray (0-4), the second of five Wolverine pitchers, would take the loss as Abro scored the go-ahead run moments later on a throwing error.

The sixth run of the game scored on a sacrifice fly on a bang-bang play at the plate with sophomore LF Chris Burhans (Alpharetta, Ga./The Marist School) making a strong throw to the plate.

Michigan's last rally came in the top of the eighth inning and it showed promise as junior catcher Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS) and Sokol opened the frame with back-to-back singles to right, chasing WMU's winning pitcher J.R. Mathes (3-3). With Cantalamessa at the plate in a potential bunt situation, reliever Zach Straayer hit him with his second pitch, loading the bases with nobody out. Roberts grounded into a 6-4-3 double play which sent Fox across the plate to make the score 6-5, but pinch hitter Matt Butler's (Lombard, Ill./Driscoll Catholic HS) bid for extra bases was hauled down in front of the fence in right to end the threat.

WMU LHP Brad Mumma, who pitched a complete-game victory over Michigan earlier this season in the Butler Classic in Indianapolis, recorded his second save of the season as he retired Koman on an infield grounder to end the game.

Fox, Sokol and Roberts each collected two hits in the loss to lead the nine-hit Michigan attack.

The Wolverines return to Ray Fisher Stadium and open a four-game Big Ten series vs. Northwestern on Friday (May 9, 3 p.m.).

N O T E S

The Michigan Baseball Seniors Banquet sponsored by the Dugout Club is set for Sunday, May 11 (5:30 p.m.) in Schembechler Hall following the final Big Ten home game vs. Northwestern. Information on the banquet and reservations can be made by calling Helen Nelson at the baseball office (734) 647-4550.

The Wolverines enter the weekend series in fourth place with eight games remaining on the Big Ten schedule with the four at home with Northwestern (May 9-11) and four on the road at Purdue (May 16-18).

Brock Koman's first-inning homer was the 29th of his career, leaving him one shy of a three-way tie for fifth place on the Michigan career homer list with Bryan Besco (1995-99), Mike Cervenak (1996-99) and Chris Sabo (1981-83) at 30 homers.

When senior LF/2B Jordan Cantalamessa was hit by pitches twice in the game at Western Michigan (May 6) it marked the fifth time a Wolverine has been hit twice in a game this season.

Michigan's hitting leaders after 45 games include (80 plate appearances minimum): senior 3B Brock Koman at .383 (67-for-175), sophomore SS Nick Rudden (.370, 40-for-108), junior C Jake Fox (.362, 58-for-160), senior OF Gino Lollio (.345, 60-for-174) and senior 1B Mike Sokol (.342, 54-for-158).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423