Cantalamessa Triples in Winner as U-M Tops Central

Wednesday, May 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

25-23

Central Michigan

30-22

Central Michigan

Michigan

5/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore 2B Jordan Cantalamessa (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) launched a two-run triple to highlight a four-run eighth inning as the Michigan baseball team came from behind for a 10-7 win over Central Michigan Wednesday afternoon (May 9) in the final game of the season at Ray Fisher Stadium. Cantalamessa was 2-for-5 with a pair of triples. He drove in three runs and scored twice for the Wolverines (25-23).

Senior LHP Nick Alexander (Alpena, Mich./Alpena HS), the fourth of five Wolverine pitcher collected the win. Alexander (3-3), made his 59th career appearance in the game to tie former teammate Bryan Cranson (1997-2000) for the most pitching appearances by a Wolverine lefthander. Alexander and Cranson are tied for seventh on the overall list as the other six pitchers on top of the list are righthanders.

Junior LHP Jeff Trzos (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS) worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his team-leading fourth save of the season.

The Wolverines jumped ahead in the first inning with senior SS Scott Tousa (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS) reaching on a bunt single, and he stole second base. Cantalamessa followed with first triple of the game for a 1-0 lead. Sophomore 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) singled to knock in the second run and senior RF C.J. Ghannam (Farmington, Mich./Harrison HS) singled to drive in Koman.

Freshman RHP Bobby Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) had a good news-bad news outing in his first career start as a Wolverine. He struck out the side in the first inning but allowed five runs in the second inning. Sophomore RHP Brad McCloskey (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice HS) replaced Garza and worked four innings, allowing two runs, one earned.

Sophomore catcher Jason Wuerfel (Cedar, Mich./Glen Lake HS) sparked the comeback with a two-run single in the sixth inning and a slash-bunt single in the four-run eighth inning.

The Wolverines cut the lead to 7-6 in the seventh inning on a pair of doubles by Koman and junior/sophomore 1B Nate Wright (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew HS). Sophomore CF Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) led off the eighth inning by reaching on an error and Wuerfel foiled the CMU defense with a slash single to center, moving Rutkowski to third base.

Sophomore/freshman LF Eric Esper (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge HS) dropped a safety squeeze bunt to drive in the tying run, and after Tousa was hit by a pitch, Cantalamessa tripled in two runs. Koman's sacrifice fly scored the final run of the game.

Michigan (25-23, 9-11 Big Ten) heads for Columbus, Ohio, to close out the regular season against Big Ten-leading Ohio State. Junior RHP Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS), who is 5-3 with a 2.94 ERA, is slated to open the series Friday night (May 11) at Bill Davis Stadium.

N O T E S

Scott Tousa went 1-for-4 vs. CMU on Wednesday, pushing his career hit total to 206, good for ninth on the all-time Michigan hit. Next on the hit list is Tim Flannelly (209 hits, 1983-85) in eighth place.

Tousa added four more career at bats to move his career at bat total to 664. Tousa ranks eight in career at bats, and next up on the list are Bobby Scales (1996-99) and Phil Price (1987-90) tied for sixth (674).

Tousa has played in 196 games and needs four more to become the ninth Wolverine to play 200 games.

Brock Koman was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, pushing his team-leading total to 51 RBI.

The Wolverines had three batters hit by a pitch vs. CMU to move the single-season record total to 60. The old team season record of 55 was set in 1999.

Michigan's hitting leaders (for players with at least 70 at bats) after 48 games are: sophomore 3B Brock Koman (.382, 63-for-165); senior 2B Scott Tousa (.326, 56-for-172); sophomore OF Gino Lollio (.324, 34-for-105); junior/sophomore 1B Nate Wright (.320, 47-for-147); sophomore LF Jordan Cantalamessa (.308, 44-for-143); freshman catcher Jake Fox (.295, 38-for-129); and sophomore CF Blake Rutkowski (.291, 23-for-79).