Koman's Slam Helps Wolverines Split with Fighting Illini

Saturday, April 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

Michigan

22-16, 8-6

Illinois

21-25, 8-13

Illinois

Michigan

Koman's Slam Helps Wolverines Split with Fighting Illini

4/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ray Fisher Stadium)
Scores: Michigan 7, Illinois 5; Illinois 3, Michigan 2
Records: U-M (22-17, 8-7 Big Ten); Illinois (22-25, 9-13 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game: Sunday, April 29 -- vs. Illinois (Ray Fisher Stadium), 1 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) had one hit on Saturday (April 28), but it was a grand slam homer and the game-winner in the Michigan baseball team's 7-5 victory over Illinois in the first game of the doubleheader. Illinois (22-25, 9-13 Big Ten) bounced back to take the nightcap, 3-2, behind the four-hit pitching of freshman RHP Tim Gorski, who earned his first career win.

Koman reached base six times in the doubleheader, by an error, three walks and a hit by pitch, but in his one chance to do some damage he did. Koman lined a one-strike pitch over the fence in left for his 11th homer of the season in Michigan's five-run fifth inning. The slam put the Wolverines (22-17, 8-7 Big Ten) ahead 5-4 and it pushed Koman's team-leading RBI total to 48.

Freshman RHP Jim Brauer (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) allowed one hit in 2.1 innings of work in relief of starter sophomore RHP Tim Leveque (Northridge, Calif./Crespi HS) to get the win. Brauer is now 3-1 and he dropped his ERA to 4.56. Leveque worked three innings and the first two batters in the fourth inning and allowed four runs in the no-decision as his ERA jumped from 0.79 to 1.69.

Sophomore CF Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) had three of Michigan's 10 hits in the opener and he scored twice to pace the offense. Junior LHP Jeff Trzos (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS) pitched the final 1.2 innings, recording three strikeouts and allowing an unearned run to record his third save of the season.

Junior RHP Bobby Wood (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) pitched his first complete game as a Wolverine in the second game, but gave up a run in the second and a pair in the fourth in the loss. Illinois 3B Luke Simmons and catcher Patrick Arlis hit fourth-inning doubles for the second run of the game, while DH Trevor Frederickson knocked in Arlis with final run with a single.

Trailing 3-1, the Wolverines loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but a spectacular play by Illinois SS T.F. Meagher may have saved the game as he turned a bases-loaded grounder by Michigan SS Brandon Jominy (Coral Springs, Fla./Westminster Academy) into a 6-5 force at third, nipping pinch runner Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) for the second out.

Koman, who reached when hit by the first pitch of the inning, scored the second Michigan run, but Meagher's play stopped the rally and Gorski fanned pinch hitter Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS) for the final out of the sixth. Gorski retired the Wolverines 1-2-3 in the seventh to record the victory.

Senior SS Bill LaRosa (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) was 2-for-2 in the game and sophomore catcher Jason Wuerfel (Cedar, Mich./Glen Lake HS) hit his first career double to help build a run in the third inning of the second game. Rutkowski scored LaRosa with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.

Michigan and Illinois close out the Big Ten series on Sunday (April 29) at Ray Fisher Stadium with sophomore LHP Rich Hill (Milton, Mass./Milton HS) slated to start for the Wolverines. Hill is 2-3 with an ERA of 3.49 and he leads the staff with 49 strikeouts in 38.2 innings.

N O T E S

Tri-captain Scott Tousa (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS) started both games of the Illinois doubleheader and went 2-for-5 in the opener. He has 193 career hits heading into Sunday's series finale with Illinois.

Michigan's hitting leaders (for players with at least 70 at bats) after 39 games are: sophomore 3B Brock Koman (.403, 58-for-144); junior/sophomore 1B Nate Wright (.361, 43-for-119); sophomore OF Gino Lollio (.337, 29-for-86); senior 2B Scott Tousa (.316, 43-for-136); and sophomore LF Jordan Cantalamessa (.295, 36-for-122).

Big Ten Standings (after Saturday's Games)

 1. Purdue 16-5 .762 2. Ohio State 14-5 .737 3. Minnesota 15-7 .682 4. Penn State 10-8 .556 5. MICHIGAN 8-7 .533 6. Northwestern 8-11 .421 7. Illinois 9-13 .409 8. Michigan State 6-12 .333 9. Iowa 6-14 .300 10. Indiana 4-14 .222

Saturday Scores
Michigan 7-2, Illinois 5-3
Northwestern 3-0, Iowa 1-2
Ohio State 4-5, Minnesota 3-3
Indiana 2-0, Purdue 0-1

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423