Michigan Drops Road Contest to San Diego State Aztecs

Saturday, March 10

San Diego, Calif.

7:00 PM PT

Michigan

5-4

San Diego State

12-9

Michigan

San Diego State

Michigan Drops Road Contest to San Diego State Aztecs

3/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The University of Michigan baseball team was defeated by San Diego State 4-1 Saturday evening (March 10) in Petco Park. San Diego State LF Cameron Johnson had three hits, including a run-scoring single in the sixth inning that snapped a 1-1 tie, on the second day of the Tony Gwynn Classic.

The Aztecs (12-9) collected the win in a game that featured a pitching duel between Michigan (5-4) sophomore Zach Putnam (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) and SDSU's starter, RHP Bruce Billings. Billings collected his first win of the season; despite allowing just one earned run in the game, Putnams record dropped to 2-1.

Cameron paced the SDSU attack, hitting 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and three stolen bases.

Putnam pitched six innings allowing five hits and two runs (one earned).

SDSU scored twice in the eighth inning against senior/junior LHP Brad Seddon (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair); Johnson drove in the third run of the game for the Aztecs.

Sophomore 3B Adam Abraham (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./South HS) collected U-Ms first hit of the game with a second inning single; junior/sophomore LF Kenny Fellows (Holt, Mich./Holt) beat out an infield single in the third but was caught stealing.

Putnam allowed singles in the first and second but made a nice fielding play on a grounder with a runner on second, firing to SS Jason Christian (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), who got the ball to Abraham at third for a 1-6-5 put out while keeping the batter at first base.

The Aztecs rallied in the third, as catcher Chris Anderson lined a double into the leftfield corner, moving to third on a sharp single by SS Troy Hanzawa. SDSU 2B Garret Green knocked in the first run with a slow roller to Abraham at third. Putnam got out of the jam with a ground out and a pop foul out.

Putnam singled with two outs in the fourth, but Billings struck out Abraham for his second K of the inning.

The Wolverines tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning as sophomore 2B Kevin Cislo (Novi, Mich./Novi) led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by SS Christian. Junior 1B Nate Recknagel (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) knocked in his team-leading 11th run of the season with a fielders choice grounder to third.

The lead lasted half an inning; SDSU scored an unearned run, as DH Frank LoNigro reached on a two-base error by Recknagel and scored on a single by Johnson. Putnam worked out of a bases loaded situation with a strikeout and a fly ball to CF Eric Rose (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield).

Michigan closes out the weekend tournament, facing Oklahoma on Sunday morning (Mar. 11) in Tony Gwynn Stadium. The game will start at 10 a.m. PDT, with junior/sophomore RHP Chris Fetter (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) on the mound; his season record is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA.

N O T E S

Former Wolverines at the game Saturday included former U-M captain Matt Copp (1990-93) and former catcher Derek Kerr (1984-86).

U-M pitching coach Bob Keller is visiting his home area of San Diego, Calif., this weekend.

The Wolverines game vs SDSU was played in Petco Park, Major League home of the San Diego Padres. The Wolverines opened the season playing twice at Tradition Field, spring training Major League park of the New York Mets and of course UM has played the last two seasons at Minnesota in the Metodome, home of the Twins.

Sophomore 3B/P Abraham moved his hit streak to eight games while 1B Nate Recknagel had his streak snapped at eight games.

Michigans leading hitters after nine games are: 3B/P Adam Abraham (14-for-36, .389), SS Jason Christian (12-for-32, .375), P/OF Zach Putnam (14-for-41, .341),1B Nate Recknagel (12-for-37, .324) and OF Brad Roblin (11-for-36, .306).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734-763-4423)