Recknagel, Solid Pitching Lift Michigan Over Minnesota

Sunday, April 9

Minneapolis, Minn.

2:05 PM CT

Michigan

16-11, 4-4

Minnesota

14-13, 3-5

Michigan

Minnesota

Recknagel, Solid Pitching Lift Michigan Over Minnesota

4/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- For the second game in a row University of Michigan sophomore Nate Recknagel (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) collected the game-winning hit and the pitching staff threw a shutout as the Wolverines blanked Minnesota 2-0 in the getaway game Sunday afternoon (April 8) in Big Ten action in the H.H.H. Metrodome.

The Wolverines (16-11, 4-4 Big Ten) took three of four from the Gophers (14-13, 3-5 Big Ten), and the U-M pitching staff blanked the host Gophers for the final 16 innings of the weekend.

The Wolverines scored in the ninth as Recknagel's double to the deepest part of the Metrodome with two outs drove in senior co-captains Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest), who had singled to open the inning, and 3B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS), who had walked on a 3-2 pitch to keep the inning alive. The "gamer" was the second of the weekend for Recknagel and his team-leading fourth of the season.

Wolverine junior RHP Andrew Hess (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central HS) worked the first 7.2 innings, allowing three hits and no runs, and freshman RHP Adam Abraham (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./South HS) worked the final 1.1 innings to collect the win. Minnesota junior RHP Cole DeVries (3-2) took the loss despite pitching nine innings and allowing five hits. The runs scored by the Wolverines were the first in 31.1 against him in the Metrodome.

Hess had some defensive help in working a 1-2-3 bottom of the first as freshman 2B Jason Christian (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) made a fine backhand play against leadoff hitter CF Taylor VanderAarde, and 3B Scheidt grabbed a slow roller hit by SS Dan Lyons and 1B Derek VanBuskirk (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair) made another scoop for the second out.

DeVries retired the first eight before junior CF Brad Roblin (Wayland, Mass./Rivers School) became the first baserunner of the game as he drew a walk and then stole second base for his 10th steal of the year. Senior LF Mike Schmidt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) struck out to end the third.

Minnesota 2B Luke MacLean opened the third with a triple to become the first baserunner for the Gophers. The Wolverine defense took over as 3B Joe Maciej hit a grounder to junior shortstop Leif Mahler (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) and he fired the ball to fifth-year senior catcher Kunkel for the 6-2 putout. Kunkel then fired a strike to 2B Christian to get Maciej attempting to steal second base on a 2-4 play, and catcher Chris Herbert fouled out to SS Mahler.

Sophomore DH Recknagel, who hit a flyout to the fence in dead center in the third inning, singled to left with two outs in the fifth for the first Wolverine hit of the game, extending his hit streak to six games. He moved to second on a passed ball, but Christian struck out to end the inning.

Andy Hunter walked to lead off the fifth for Minnesota and was retired on a force with Mahler at short making a fine toss to Christian at 2B. Following a walk to DH Kyle Baran, it was 6-4-3 Mahler to Christian to VanBuskirk to double up the speedy 2B MacLean.

Shortstop Mahler doubled to left-center with two outs in the sixth inning, but Kunkel ended the inning with a grounder to first.

Mahler made a flashy play up the middle to retire Maciej leading off the sixth, and Herbert followed with a single to left, his first hit of the season in his first start. VanderAarde fouled out to Schmidt in left, bringing SS Lyons to the plate, and he grounded into a force play to end the inning.

RF Doug Pickens (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice) doubled down the line in left to open the seventh and VanBuskirk reached on an error by Maciej at third, leaving runners and first and second for Scheidt. Scheidt fouled off two bunt attempts and then grounded into a force play, bringing up Recknagel with runners on the corners. DeVries fanned Recknagel for his seventh strikeout of the game, and Zach Putnam (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) hit a fly to right batting for Christian to end the inning.

In the eighth inning the Wolverines ran into another of the unique qualities of the Metrodome as Schmidt's foul fly heading into the stands hit a speaker and bounced back toward the field and catcher Herbert caught the ball for an out.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth Maciej sliced a ball to right and Pickens made a great effort to get to the ball and it hit near the line and bounced over the fence for a ground rule double. Abraham replaced Hess after the double, the third hit of the game for the Gophers. After going 0-2 on Herbert, Abraham threw him several very close pitches before walking him, and he retired CF Taylor VanderAarde on a fly to Pickens in right to end the inning.

Kunkel led off the ninth with a single to center and Pickens moved him up with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher DeVries. VanBuskirk grounded to short and Scheidt walked to bring up Recknagel, who doubled to the deepest part of the Metrodome to scored both runners.

After Abraham fanned Lyons to open the bottom of the ninth, veteran Mike Mee singled to left, bringing the tying run to the plate. 1B Andy Hunter hit a fly to center for the second out and Abraham got Sean Kommerstad to ground to Mahler to end the game.

The Wolverines host Toledo on Wednesday (April 12, 3:05 p.m.) in a game that should feature many members of the U-M pitching staff.

N O T E S

With two hits in the game 1B/C/DH Nate Recknagel extended his hitting streak to six games and SS Leif Mahler moved his streak to five games.

Michigan's leading hitters after 27 games are: SS Leif Mahler (31-for-88, 352), CF Eric Rose (27-for-79, .342), 1B/C/DH Nate Recknagel (30-for-90, .333), 2B/ OF Doug Pickens (30-for-93, .323)1B/OF Derek VanBuskirk (29-for-93, 312)and C Jeff Kunkel (27-for-91, .297).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423