Michigan Baseball: Michigan beats Northwestern 11-2

from MGoBlue.com
http://www.mgoblue.com/baseball/article.aspx?id=138084

U-M Sets Big Ten Mark with Win Over Northwestern

May 17, 2008
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Wilpon Complex)
Score: #17 Michigan 11, Northwestern 2
Records: U-M (42-12, 26-5 Big Ten), Northwestern (21-28, 14-18 Big Ten)
Next Game: Thursday, May 22 -- vs. TBD in Big Ten Tournament (Wilpon Complex), 7:05 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Earning its 26th league win to set the Big Ten Conference record for most single-season wins, the No. 17-ranked University of Michigan baseball team cruised to an 11-2 decision over Northwestern in its regular-season finale on Saturday (May 17) in front of 1,502 fans at the Wilpon Baseball Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.

The Wolverines' three-member senior class highlighted the victory on senior day as leftfielder Derek VanBuskirk (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair HS) posted three RBI, second baseman Leif Mahler (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) registered a pair of hits and first baseman Nate Recknagel (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) recording six put outs at first.

Freshman RHP Kolby Wood (Eau Claire, Mich./Eau Claire HS) earned the start and allowed just one hit through two scoreless innings, facing the minimum as his defense turned a double play behind him in the first.

The Wolverines jumped up to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of second when freshman Ryan LaMarre (Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi HS) picked up a two-out RBI. VanBuskirk kicked off the frame with a single to center but was thrown out on a fielder's choice by junior centerfielder Kevin Cislo (Novi, Mich./Novi HS). Cilso moved himself to second with his 17th stolen base of the season and came around to score when LaMarre drilled a sharp single into leftfield.

Freshman RHP Travis Smith (Austin, Texas/Austin HS) took over the pitching duties in the bottom of the second and, like Wood, tossed a pair of scoreless frames to claim the victory and improve his record to 5-1 on the season. The first-year pitcher struck out one and allowed just two hits in the outing.

Michigan padded its advantage to five run in the bottom of the third, scoring four two-out tallies with a RBI by VanBuskirk, Cislo and sophomore catcher Chris Berset (Vienna, Va./Heights School). With two down and a Recknagel on first, junior third baseman Adam Abraham (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South HS) ripped a single back up the middle, putting runners on first and second. VanBuskirk followed with his second hit of the afternoon -- a double to the gap in left centerfield -- that scored Recknagel from second base.

The Wildcats went to their bullpen after the RBI double, but, on the first pitch by reliever Matt Havey, Cislo ripped the ball 395 feet from home plate, bouncing it off the wall in deep centerfield for a two-run triple -- his second of the year. It marked the second time this week that Cislo knocked a base hit off the centerfield wall. Berset concluded the scoring in the frame with a single to center, scoring Cislo from third.

U-M added two more in the bottom of the fourth when VanBuskirk singled to leftfield with the bases loaded, scoring Mahler and junior designated hitter Zach Putnam (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) from third and second base, respectively. The two-run base hit was his third of the day and gave U-M a 7-0 advantage.

The Maize and Blue wrapped up its scoring with a four-run fifth as Mahler drove in a pair of runs, and junior shortstop Jason Christian (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland HS) and Abraham brought in a run apiece. Chistian's RBI came via a double off the 26-foot Brick Monster in leftfield and scored Berset, who had singled to leadoff the frame. LaMarre, who was on first with a single of his own, advanced to third on the double. Both runners crossed the plate one at-bat later when Mahler singled into centerfield to improve his RBI total to a career-best 37. Abraham tallied his 50th RBI of the season when he bounced into a fielder's choice, allowing Mahler to score from third.

Junior LHP Mike Wilson (Pickering, Ontario/Pine Ridge Secondary School), Abraham and sophomore/freshman Matt Gerbe (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower HS) earned time on the mound in the final five innings for the Maize and Blue, each recording a pair of strikeouts.

The Wolverines' will open play at the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Wednesday (May 21). As the tourney host, Michigan will play in the late game Thursday night (May 22) and its opponent will be determined by the first day's action.