Michigan Swept in Big Ten Doubleheader at Minnesota

Saturday, April 2

Minneapolis, Minn.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

16-5, 0-2

Minnesota

9-11, 2-0

Michigan

Minnesota

4/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Metrodome)
Scores: Minnesota 3, Michigan 2 (9 inninigs); Minnesota 6, Michigan 3
Records: U-M (16-6, 0-3 Big Ten), Minnesota (10-11, 3-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 3 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1 p.m. CDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota DH Kevin Carlson's two-out, bases-loaded double snapped a 3-3 tie to give the host Golden Gophers a sweep of Saturday's (April 2) Big Ten Conference baseball doubleheader over the University Michigan, 3-2 in extra innings and 6-3. The sweep gives Minnesota (10-11, 3-0 Big Ten) a share of the conference lead with Illinois (3-0) and Northwestern (1-0) during the first weekend of action, while Michigan (16-6, 0-3 Big Ten) has followed a 10-game winning streak with a three-game losing skid.

Michigan and Minnesota, two of the pre-season favorites, exchanged comebacks in Saturday's doubleheader, but the Gophers collected the wins. Minnesota held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the opener, but Michigan tied the game in the sixth inning on a pinch double by freshman 3B Derek VanBuskirk (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair HS), an infield single by sophomore LF Brad Roblin (Wayland, Mass./Rivers School) and a sacrifice fly by senior RF Matt Butler (Lombard, Ill./Driscoll Catholic).

In the bottom of the sixth Minnesota took the lead, chasing Wolverine starter Michael Penn (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian) with a leadoff double by RF Mike Mee. Sophomore/freshman LHP Clayton Richard (Lafayette, Ind./McCutcheon HS) replaced Penn and gave up a two-out single to LF Luke MacLean for a 2-1 Gopher lead. Richard, who moved his ERA to 0.84, worked three innings without a decision.

Michigan tied the game in the seventh as senior 1B Kyle Bohm (Stevens Point, Wis./Area HS) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and replaced by pinch runner junior Mike Schmidt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS). Schmidt advanced to second on a groundout by junior 3B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS) and scored on a single by senior/junior catcher Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS).

Wolverine closer Jeff Niemiec (Livonia, Mich./Catholic Central) replaced Richard to start the ninth inning. He he hit CF Tony Leseman with one out and ninth batter Jeremy Chlan put down a sac bunt to move the winning run into scoring position. However, Niemiec (2-1) fired the ball into the Minnesota bullpen and Leseman scored the winning run as Butler was trying to locate the ball under a bench.

The Wolverines took a pair of leads in the second game, but each lead lasted less than half an inning. Sophomore CF Eric Rose (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield HS) singled and collected his first stolen base of the year in the third inning of the second game, and he moved to third on a Butler groundout. Roblin (see note below) was hit by a pitch and removed from the game. Junior 2B Chris Getz (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South HS) singled in Rose for the first Michigan lead of the weekend.

Minnesota scored a run off senior/junior LHP Paul Hammond (Mason, Ohio/Mason HS) in the third when Leseman was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a balk and scored on a single by David Hrncirik.

Kunkel and VanBuskirk singled to open the fourth inning, and sophomore shortstop Leif Mahler (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) moved the runners over with a sac bunt. Rose pushed a bunt toward first and beat it out for a single, and both runners scored on the play for a 3-1 Wolverine lead.

Minnesota tied the game off Hammond (1-1) with Carlson and Leseman collecting the RBI. The Gophers chased Hammond in the fifth inning on back-to-back singles by SS Matt Fornasiere and Hrncirik and LHP Drew Taylor (Toronto, Ontario/Upper Canada College) hit the first batter he faced to load the bases. Taylor battled, getting the fourth and fifth hitters to pop up, but Carlson hit a pop fly down the leftfield line that fell in for the game-winning, three-run double. Carlson has five RBI and a pair of game-winning RBI in the first three games of the series.

Kunkel led the 12-hit Michigan attack with three hits in Saturday's doubleheader, while VanBuskirk, Rose and Roblin each had two hits. Freshman Doug Pickens (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice), who has seen most of his action in the outfield this season, saw innings at second base in the opener as Getz moved to short to replace Mahler. Pickens cut down a runner at the plate on a 4-2 play and later was involved with a strange ground-ball double play that included an outfielder at 2B (Pickens), a second baseman at SS (Getz) and a catcher (Kunkel) at first base.

The Wolverines conclude the Big Ten series against Minnesota on Sunday (April 3, 1 p.m.) in the H.H.H. Metrodome. Junior RHP Derek Feldkamp (Adrian, Mich./Blissfield HS) is slated to start for the Wolverines. Feldkamp is 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

N O T E S

Former Wolverine Mike Watters (1983-85), the Michigan career triples leader (19) and a Baseball America first team All-American OF in 1985, was in attendance at Saturday's doubleheader.

Sophomore LF Brad Roblin was removed from the field after he was hit by a pitch in the second game. He was taken to a nearby hospital for tests and stitches. He was released to his parents and returned to the team hotel following the game. He is not available for action in the series finale on Sunday.

Junior 2B Chris Getz had his streak of Big Ten games with a hit snapped at 19 as he was 0-for-3 in Saturday's first game, but he bounced back with a single in the second game. He has hits in 32 of his 35 Big Ten games played the last two years.

In Big Ten action Saturday the sweeps included Minnesota over Michigan 3-2 in nine innings and 6-3, while Illinois kept pace with the Gophers, both 3-0, by taking two from Ohio State, 4-1 and 5-4. Purdue took two from Penn State, 6-4 and 9-3. Michigan State took the second game at Iowa 11-5 to gain split after Iowa took the opener 7-6. Indiana beat Northwestern in the series opener 15-9.

Big Ten Standings (Through 4/2/05)

 1. Minnesota 3-0 1.000 Illinois 3-0 1.000 Indiana 1-0 1.000 4. Michigan State 2-1 .667 Purdue 2-1 .667 6. Iowa 1-2 .333 Penn State 1-2 .333 8. MICHIGAN 0-3 .000 Ohio State 0-3 .000 Northwestern 0-1 .000

Sunday: Michigan at Minnesota, Ohio State at Illinois, Michigan State at Iowa, Penn State at Purdue, Northwestern at Indiana (DH). Monday: Northwestern at Indiana.

Michigan's leading hitters after 22 games are OF Matt Butler (38-for-94, .404), C Jeff Kunkel (20-for-50, .400), 2B Chris Getz (33-for-83, .398), 1B Kyle Bohm (31-for-83, .373), DH/3B A.J. Scheidt (23-for-71, .324) and OF Mike Schmidt (16-for-53, .302).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423