Putnam Powers Wolverines to Twinbill Sweep of Iowa

Saturday, March 29

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:05 PM

Michigan

11-6, 1-0

Iowa

7-10, 0-1

IOWA

Michigan

3/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Scores: Michigan 4, Iowa 3 (10 innings); Michigan 5, Iowa 3
Records: U-M (12-6, 2-0 Big Ten), Iowa (7-11, 0-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 30 -- DH vs. Iowa (Wilpon Complex), 12:05 p.m.

Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photos

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After having its conference opener postponed a day by weather, the University of Michigan baseball team claimed two wins against Iowa in a doubleheader Saturday (March 29) that marked the first Big Ten games played at the Wilpon Baseball Complex, home to Ray Fisher Stadium. The Wolverines (12-6, 2-0 Big Ten) collected a 4-3, 10-inning win in the opener and scored five runs in the fifth inning of the nightcap for a 5-3 come-from-behind victory that improved U-M to 4-0 at home this season.

Junior pitcher Zach Putnam(Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) retired 19 consecutive batters and recorded a career-best 12 strikeouts in eight innings in the opener. At the plate, the dual threat smashed one long ball in each contest and recorded three runs and four RBI, driving in the game-winning run in the each game. Junior 2B Kevin Cislo(Novi, Mich./Novi HS) combined for three hits, three runs and one RBI on the day.

Michigan grabbed the initial advantage of the opening game in the second inning. After loading the bases on two errors and an infield hit, sophomore catcher Chris Berset(Vienna, Va./Heights School) bounced a dribbler up the middle, scoring Putnam from third base to give the Wolverines a 1-0 edge.

Senior 1B Nate Recknagel(Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) stretched the U-M lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly deep to center during the team's next plate appearance. Iowa's Caleb Curry drifted to the wall to corral the drive, but the blast proved enough to score Cislo.

After striking out the side in the fifth and sixth innings, Putnam charged the Michigan effort at the dish, rocking a fastball over the left-centerfield wall to establish a 3-0 divide. Putnam's two shots on the day represent his total for the 2008 campaign and mark his ninth and 10th career home runs.

The Hawkeyes leveled the score with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Iowa loaded the bases on two errors and an infield hit before a Kurtis Muller single ended the scoring drought and made it 3-1. With the bases loaded, Kyle Riffel dribbled a grounder to short that slipped into outfield, scoring two Hawkeyes to even the teams at 3-3.

With two outs in the tail end of the ninth inning, the Wolverines held runners on first and second after drawing the first two walks of the contest. Cislo raced to first for an infield single to load the bases, but senior tri-captain Derek VanBuskirk(St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair HS) popped up to the second baseman to douse the two-out rally.

U-M only needed one extra frame to snag its first conference victory, tallying the game-finisher in the bottom of the 10th. Putnam drilled a pitch off the brick wall in left for a double, scoring senior/junior LF Kenny Fellows(Holt, Mich./Holt HS) from second base. Fellows struck out to start the inning but reached on a passed ball and moved to second on a wild pitch.

Freshman pitcher Tyler Burgoon(Definace, Ohio/Defiance HS), the contest's winning pitcher, did not allow a baserunner in two innings on the mound. The righthander struck out a couple of Hawkeye batters to earn the first win of his career.

In the second game, the Hawkeyes wasted little time offensively, earning one run on a sacrifice fly in their first plate appearance. Kevin Hoef led off with a triple to right-center and continued home on a sacrifice to left, giving Iowa the initial advantage, 1-0.

Iowa extend the lead with two runs in the top of the third inning. The Hawkeyes held runners on second and third following a successful sacrifice bunt when a balk advanced the runners one base, scoring Tyson Blaser and moving Hoef to third. Justin Toole lifted a ball to right for a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

U-M produced a five-run fifth inning to take control of the game, giving the Wolverines the upper hand by a 5-3 margin. Sophomore RF Alan Oaks(White Lake, Mich./White Lake HS) initiated the rally, beating a throw to first base, and freshman Ryan LaMarre(Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi HS) followed suit with a single of his own. Senior SS Leif Mahler(Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), who leads the club in doubles, collected his seventh two-bagger of the year to score Oaks and put the potential tying run in scoring position.

Cislo hustled down the line, forcing a poor throw that scored both LaMarre and Mahler to deadlock the teams, 3-3. With two outs and the go-ahead run on third, Putnam garnered his second round-tripper of the day to give the Wolverines a 5-3 edge. The junior posted his sixth multi-RBI game and his second game-winner of the day and the season.

The Wolverine defense solidified the win, not allowing another Iowa baserunner for the remainder of the seven-inning contest. In Iowa's final at bat, senior/junior pitcher Chris Fetter(Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) caught one batter looking and VanBuskirk made a spectacular diving catch to seal the victory.

Michigan returns to Ray Fisher Stadium at the Wilpon Baseball Complex Sunday (March 30) for another doubleheader against Iowa. First pitch for the first game is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423