Weekly Release #13

Big Ten Conference Tournament Schedule
Siebert Field, Minneapolis, Minn. -- All times are CDT

Wednesday, May 26
Game 1 -- #4 seed Michigan State vs. #5 seed Purdue, 12:05 p.m.
Game 2 -- #3 seed Michigan vs. #6 seed Penn State, 3:35 p.m.

Thursday, May 27
Game 3 -- Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 12:05 p.m.
Game 4 -- #2 seed Ohio State vs. Higher seed of Game 1 and 2 winners, 3:35 p.m.
Game 5 -- #1 seed Minnesota vs. Lower seed of Game 1 and 2 winners, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, May 28
Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Lower seed of Game 4 and 5 losers*, 12:05 p.m.
Game 7 -- Game 6 winner vs. Higher seed of Game 4 and 5 losers*, 3:35 p.m.
Game 8 -- Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, May 29
Game 9 -- Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 3:35 p.m.
Game 10 -- Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, May 30
Game 11 (if necessary) -- Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 12:05 p.m.

* Exception: If one of the games 4 or 5 losers has already had a bye, that team will play in game 6, regardless of seed.

Wolverines Make 16th Big Ten Tourney Appearance
The University of Michigan baseball team took three of four games from Penn State last weekend (May 22-23) to earn the third seed in the 2004 Big Ten Baseball Tournament starting Wednesday (May 26) at Minnesota.

Michigan's first opponent will be Penn State (28-27) as the Wolverines (32-24) will be playing the Nittany Lions for the fifth consecutive game. The Wolverines are the third seed for the second straight year and it marks the first back-to-back Big Ten Tournament appearances for Michigan since 1996 and 1997.

Wednesday's first game of the tournament features No. 4 seed Michigan State (32-24) playing No. 5 seed Purdue (28-26) at 12:05 p.m. No. 1 seed and host Minnesota (35-20) and No. 2 seed Ohio State (32-23) will open play Thursday (May. 27) facing the day one winners. Top seeded Minnesota will play the lowest seeded winner from Wednesday's action. Thursday's first game will feature the losing teams from the first day of action in an elimination game.

Michigan was 11-9 against the tournament field which gave the Wolverines the third seed as a tiebreaker over Michigan State. Michigan took three of four from Penn State and Ohio State, split four games with MSU and Minnesota and took one from Purdue.

Michigan is making its 16th appearance in Big Ten Tournament since hosting and winning the first one back in 1981. Michigan has captured six tournament championships including three in Ann Arbor (1981, 1983 & 1987), two in Minneapolis (1984 & 1986) and one in Columbus (1999). Michigan's record in Big Ten Tournament games is 32-21 (.604).

Maloney Gains 30 and Third
Rich Maloney (Western Michigan '86), the 18th coach in Wolverine baseball history, enters the weekend having led Michigan to the Big Ten Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996-97. Maloney has a nine-year career coaching mark of 318-195-1 (.619). He is 62-51 (.549) in two seasons at Michigan and he is 35-27 (.565) in Big Ten play. He has led the Wolverines to consecutive third place finishes.

A native of Roseville, Mich., Maloney, spent seven years as head coach at Ball State where he was named Mid-American Conference coach-of-the-year twice (1998 and 2001) and he led the Cardinals to MAC championships in 1999 and 2001. Ball State won the MAC West title four consecutive years (1998-2001).

Maloney has won at least 30 games in each of his first nine seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level and reached the 30-win plateau for the 2004 season last weekend.. Maloney is now 5-4 vs. Penn State.

Getz Gets Hits
Sophomore 2B Chris Getz (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South HS) enters the Big Ten Tournament at Minnesota after closing out the conference portion of the schedule with an 18-game hitting streak. Getz had hits in 30 of the 32 conference games. Getz led the league with 53 hits and finished second in runs (32) and placed fourth in the conference with a .393 batting average. In overall action Getz has hits in 32 of his last 35 games and he leads the Wolverines in hits (78) and runs (47). He has 23 multiple hit games this season with eight three-hit games.

DH Roberts Bids Fond Farewell to "The Fish"
Senior designated hitter Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS) heads into the Big Ten Tournament as one of the hottest hitters for the Wolverines as he made the most of his final games at Ray Fisher Stadium. Roberts hit .692 (9-for-13) for the weekend against Penn State and earned Big Ten Player-of-the-Week honors. In his last six plate appearances at Fisher Stadium Roberts was 5-for-5 with a walk. Roberts notched his 47th career double to pull into a tie for eighth on 'M' all-time doubles list with Jim Paciorek (47, 1979-82). He had three multiple-hit games to move his career total to 54. During Sunday's (May 23) home finale Roberts collected career hit 175 and produced career RBI 100.

Wolverine Pitching Rotation
The Michigan pitching order for the Big Ten Tournament has been tentatively set to include junior/sophomore LHP Paul Hammond (Mason, Ohio/Mason HS) facing Penn State in the first round. The other Wolverine starters includes senior/junior RHP Jim Brauer (Carmel, Ind./ Carmel HS) pitching the second game of the tournament. The tournament schedule will dictate the rest of the rotation.. The other games could be started by sophomore RHP Derek Feldkamp (Adrian, Mich./Blissfield HS), junior RHP Michael Penn (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian) or junior RHP Phil Tognetti (Newhall, Calif./William S. Hart HS). Michigan's potential Big Ten Tournament starters:

Wednesday vs. Penn State -- Paul Hammond (LHP, 5-1, 4.03 ERA) has made 16 appearances this season and has 22 career appearances. He would be making his sixth start of the season and his eighth career start. Has 2.05 Big Ten only ERA to rank second and his .192 opponent batting average leads the league. He collected win over Penn State #1 (May 22) working five inning and allowing three hits. He took first loss of the season working 6.1 innings in opener at Indiana (May 15) allowing five hits and two earned run. He pitched his second straight Big Ten complete game win beating Purdue #2 (May 9) by a 4-2 margin allowing six hits and record career high six strikeouts. Pitched first career complete game with four-hitter beating MSU #3 (May 2). He pitched career-best eight innings allowing five hits and two runs in 13-2 win at Ohio State #4 (Apr. 25) in his first start since 2002 before missing year and a half following 'Tommy John surgery.' He worked three scoreless innings (10th through 13th) vs. Cleveland State (Apr. 21). He worked 3.2 scoreless innings vs. Illinois #3 (Apr. 17) allowing three hits and collecting three strikeouts. He pitched 2.1 innings at CMU (Apr. 14) allowing five runs. He pitched 3.1 scoreless inning from the seventh to the 10th innings in an eventual 6-5 loss in 13 innings at Iowa #1 (Apr. 9). He pitched eight innings in two appearances vs. Minnesota. He worked 4.0 scoreless innings allowing two hits in the 4-3 win vs. Minn. #1 (Apr. 2) and he went four more innings and earned first career win vs. Minn. #4 (Apr. 4) allowing two hits and one earned run and retiring the final 10 batters for the decision. He struggled in his first outings since 2002 allowing five runs without recording an out at Florida #2 (Feb. 26) and allowing three earned runs in .2 innings vs. UIC #3 (Feb. 29). Had five strikeouts vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (Mar. 19) and has 39 strikeouts in 60.1 innings.

Thursday vs. TBA -- Jim Brauer (RHP, 6-3, 4.54 ERA), winner of Geoff Zahn Award as Michigan's Most Valuable Pitcher for 2004, would be making 14th start of the season and 31st career start and making his 42nd career appearance as a Wolverine. Pitched six shutout innings in 7-0 win over Penn State #2 (May 22) allowing five hits and recording four strikeouts. Pitched 7.1 innings allowing 12 hits and seven runs, six earned in 7-6 loss at Purdue (May 8). Pitched complete game four-hitter in win over Indiana #2 (May 15) with four strikeouts. Pitched 5.2 innings allowing eight hits and four runs in win vs. MSU #1 (Apr. 30), his third Friday win of the season. He pitched first nine-inning complete game of his career beating Ohio State 6-1 in series opener (Apr. 23) allowing eight hits and recording five strikeouts. With OSU runners on first and third and no outs in the seventh inning he retired the side on three strikeouts throwing minimum nine pitches. He pitched 7.2 innings allowing eight hits and three runs while recording six strikeouts in win over Illinois (Apr. 16). He pitched six innings plus four batters in the seventh in no decision at Iowa (Apr. 9) allowing nine hits and five runs, one earned while recording seven strikeouts. He pitched 5.1 innings in no decision in the opener vs. Minn. (Apr. 2) allowing eight hits and three runs, two earned. He fanned career-high 13 in win over Detroit (Mar. 27) allowing three hits and one run in seven innings of work. He took the loss at Louisiana-Lafayette (Mar. 19) working the first 2.2 innings allowing seven hits and seven runs, six earned. He worked the first 3.2 innings of eventual 15-14 loss at Kentucky (Mar. 13) allowing 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out five and walking one in no decision. He dropped his ERA almost 15 runs per game with 6.2 innings of a no decision at Duke (Mar. 5) allowing one unearned run and five hits while striking out six. He leads the team in strikeouts (64) and is second in innings pitched (77.1). He took loss in the second game of season at Florida (Feb. 26) working 2.1 innings and allowing eight earned runs. He worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning vs. UIC #3 (Feb. 29). He owns an 13-12 career record with wins vs. Illinois (2), MSU (2), OSU (2), BG (2), Detroit, Penn State, Purdue and Siena Heights. He is the 'active' career leader in wins (11).

Derek Feldkamp (RHP, 5-5, 3.36 ERA, four saves) would be making ninth start of the season and 10th career start and would be making 18th outing of the season and 37th career appearance. Collected fourth save of the season working four innings vs. Penn State (May 22) to clinch tournament berth for Wolverines. Pitched team-leading fourth complete game with six-hitter to beat Indiana (May 16) by 6-3 score retiring final seven for the win and recording seven strikeouts. Had no decision in start at Purdue #4 (May 10) pitching 3.2 innings allowing two runs on one hit with two walks and three HBPs and faced minimum nine batters in first three innings. Worked two innings at EMU (May 5) allowing one run. Worked two innings at MSU #2 (May 1) in loss allowing eight hits and eight runs. Took 2-1 loss at OSU #2 (Apr. 24) despite team-leading third complete game effort allowing tying run in sixth and winning run in bottom of the seventh. Pitched 6.1 innings vs. OSU #2 allowing nine hits and two runs. Pitched second straight Big Ten complete game win allowing five hits and two runs, one earned vs. Illinois (Apr. 17) lowering ERA to Big Ten leading 1.93. Earned Big Ten Co-Pitcher-of-the-Week honors with four-hit shutout at Iowa #2 (Apr. 10) with five Ks for first career complete game. Earned third save of the season working 1.2 scoreless innings vs. EMU (Apr. 7). Took 3-2 loss vs. Minn. #3 (Apr. 3) in game suspended for darkness and completed on Sunday (Apr. 4) allowing three runs on seven hits. Allowed four hits and pitched seven scoreless in win over Oakland (Mar. 27). Took second loss vs. Harvard #1 (Mar. 20) allowing two runs in eighth inning in 3-1 loss despite career eight strikeouts. He earned second save vs. Dayton (Mar. 12) retiring both batters faced in the ninth with an 8-6 lead and took the loss at Kentucky. He pitched 2.1 scoreless innings for win at Duke #1 allowing one hit and worked two innings for save at Duke #2. He worked 4.2 innings allowing one run and five hits while striking out four in series opener vs. UIC. Had 19 appearances in 2003 with 2-1 record and had season-best six Ks at Iowa. Has 6-6 career record with wins vs. Ill., Iowa, Bethune-Cookman, Duke, Oakland and Oklahoma.

Michael Penn (RHP, 7-5, 4.17 ERA), would be making his 14th start of the season and his 30th career start and 50th career appearance. It would be his 26th start and 34th appearance at Mich. He leads the team in wins (7) and with 77.2 innings pitched. He pitched third complete game of the season beating Penn State #3 (May 23) allowing seven hits and one run. Earned three wins in six games over eight days beating Indiana, Western Michigan and Penn State.. Worked .2 innings vs. WMU (May 19) and earned team-leading sixth win. Collected fifth win with five innings out of the bullpen at IU #4 (May 16) allowing five hits and two runs with four strikeouts in eventual 16-5 win. He took the loss vs. Notre Dame (May 12) allowing three runs, two earned while just pitching the first inning. He pitched four innings allowing nine hits and three runs in 4-3 loss at Purdue #3 (May 9). He worked one inning and retired all three batters he faced at EMU (May 5). He pitched seven innings vs. MSU #4 (May 2) in loss allowing seven hits and four runs, three earned, and had four Ks. He pitched 5.1 innings allowing three hits and four runs in 8-4 win at Ohio State #3. He allowed the three hits to the first three batters and then retired 16 of next 17 batters. He worked 3.1 innings in loss to Illinois #3 (Apr. 17) allowing six hits and five runs, three earned. He pitched third career four-hit shutout and fourth complete game of career beating Iowa #3 (Apr. 10) by a 4-0 margin. He pitched 3.1 innings allowing seven hits and eight runs in a no decision vs. Minn. #4 (Apr. 4). He pitched 7.2 innings in 9-3 win over Oakland (Mar. 28). He pitched 6.1 innings and took loss vs. Harvard #2 (Mar. 21) allowing four runs, three earned and seven hits. He was named Big Ten Co-Pitcher-of-the-Week as he pitched first complete game of the season firing a 4-hit shutout to beat Youngstown State in Kentucky (Mar. 14). He pitched five innings in no decision at Duke #3 (Mar. 7) allowing nine hits and five runs. He was only starter to work five innings on the spring trip with a no decision vs. UIC (Feb. 28) allowing three hits and two runs with four strikeouts in eventual 4-3 loss in 11 innings. He made the most outings (17) of a pitcher in the starting rotation a year ago and pitched complete game Big Ten wins vs. Iowa and Northwestern. He owns a 9-14 career record, 8-13 at Michigan after transfer from Ball State. His career wins have been against Iowa (2), Western Michigan (2), Indiana, Northwestern, Oakland, Ohio State, Penn State and Youngstown State.

Phil Tognetti (RHP, 4-1, 4.85 ERA, four saves) has made 15 career starts and 51 career appearances for the Wolverines. He leads team and ranks second in the Big Ten with 26 appearances, tied for fifth best single season total at Michigan. He pitched 3.2 innings vs. PSU #4 and took first loss of the season allowing three runs on five hits. He pitched .2 innings vs. WMU (May 19). He worked two innings in first Big Ten start of the year and allowed three runs in no decision at IU #4 (May 16). He pitched 1.1 innings with two Ks vs. Notre Dame (May 12). He pitched 2.1 innings allowing three hits, three runs and recording three strikeouts at Purdue #4 (May 10). He pitched four innings in start at EMU (May 5) allowing six hits and three runs while collecting four strikeouts. He pitched twice in the MSU series working 3.1 innings in the opener allowing one hit to earn his fourth save. He pitched .2 vs. MSU #4. He pitched 1.1 innings facing four batters vs. Ohio State #3 (Apr. 24) to earn third save of season. He pitched 1-2-3 14th inning vs. Cleveland State (Apr. 21) for fourth win of the season (10th career win). He recorded save in Illinois series opener (Apr. 16) working 1.1 innings. He pitched 2.1 innings vs. Illinois (Apr. 18) in the series finale allowing five runs, four earned. Earned second straight win and third of the season out of the bullpen at CMU (Apr. 14) working 0.2 innings. He earned second win of season at Iowa #4 (Apr. 11) with 2.2 scoreless innings in 2-1 win. Made first start of season and worked six innings allowing four hits and one run in a no-decision vs. EMU (Apr. 7). He worked twice vs. Minnesota and twice during the Michigan Classic recording his first save vs. Oakland #1 (Mar. 27) and he fanned only batter faced vs. Oakland #2 (Mar. 28). He worked 1.2 innings vs. Harvard #2 (Mar. 21). Pitched three innings in win over Dayton (Mar.12). He earned win at Duke #2 allowing one hit in 3.2 innings of work and worked one inning at Duke #3. He led the team in decisions (11) and was 6-5 in 2003 with Big Ten wins at Iowa, MSU and OSU.

Bullpen Update
Ali Husain (LHP, 0-0, 1.16 ERA), has made 22 appearances this season and has 45 career appearance all from the bullpen. Husain pitched 3.2 innings with a career-high six strikeouts vs. Penn State #4 (May 23).He pitched 1.2 innings vs. WMU (May 19). He pitched .2 innings at IU #1 (May 15) allowing one hit. He pitched three times in the series at Purdue. He worked 1.1 innings with three Ks at EMU (May 5). He pitched 1.1 innings vs. MSU #4 (May 2) allowing two runs, one earned. He worked third of an inning at Ohio State #3 (Apr. 24) with strikeout in setup role. He worked scoreless 13th inning vs. Cleveland State (Apr. 21). He worked 1.2 innings vs. Illinois #4 (Apr.18) allowing two hits and an earned run. He recorded first out in the ninth inning at CMU (Apr. 14). He fanned one batter and hit a batter in third of an inning at Iowa #1 (Apr. 9). He worked in each of the first three games of the Minnesota series pitching six innings with five Ks. He allowed first run of season vs. Oakland (Mar. 28). He faced three batters in scoreless eighth inning at Louisiana-Lafayette (Mar. 21) allowing a single, turning a 1-4-6-3 DP. He was second on the team with 23 appearances in 2003 with 3-1 record.

See above for pitcher info: Phil Tognetti, Derek Feldkamp and Michael Penn have all seen action out of the bullpen in 2004.

Weekly Michigan Lineup Review
After 56 games sophomore 3B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS) has still started every game at the same position while junior Nick Rudden (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) at LF, 2B, SS & DH is the only team member to start at four different positions.

Players to have starts at three positions are junior Matt Butler (Lombard, Ill./Driscoll Catholic) in LF, CF and RF and junior OF Chris Burhans (Alpharetta, Ga.) at RF, LF & DH. Players with starts at two positions include sophomore Jeremy Goldschmeding (Allegan, Mich. Allegan HS) at shortstop and LF, junior/sophomore catcher Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) at C & 1B; sophomore OF Mike Schmidt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) in LF & CF and freshman OF Brad Roblin (Wayland, Mass./Rivers School) in RF and LF.

Roblin at 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 is the only Wolverine to bat in eight different positions in the lineup, while senior DH Brandon Roberts at 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 and 3B A.J. Scheidt also at 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 have batted in five spots in the order. The Wolverines have had nine different batters hit in the eighth slot, eight in the fifth and seventh spots while seven different batters have hit ninth in the lineup.

Wolverine Starters Update
The 2004 lineup (potential starters in bold) with backups includes (number of starts at that position this season/total career starts any position): 1B -- +Kyle Bohm (55/61), Jeff Kunkel (1/52); Brandon Roberts (0/174); 2B -- *Chris Getz (54/105), Nick Rudden (2/78); SS -- Jeremy Goldschmeding (30/59) or Leif Mahler (25/25), Nick Rudden (1/78); 3B -- A.J. Scheidt (56/73), Nick Rudden (0/78); LF -- Brad Roblin (31/42), Nick Rudden (8/78), Chris Burhans (6/35), Matt Butler (4/111), Jeremy Goldschmeding (4/59), Mike Schmidt (3/18); CF -- Eric Rose (45/45), Matt Butler (6/112), Mike Schmidt (5/18); RF -- Matt Butler (42/112), Brad Roblin (11/42), Chris Burhans (3/35), Brandon Roberts (0/174); C -- Jeff Kunkel (40/52), Matt Rademacher (16/16); DH -- Brandon Roberts (54/174), Nick Rudden (1/78), Chris Burhans (1/35). * at Wake Forest (51 starts); + at Auburn (10 starts)