Five-Run Fifth Inning Fans Flames Win Over Wolverines

Friday, February 27

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

8:00 PM

Michigan

0-3

Illinois-Chicago

3-1

Illinois-Chicago

Michigan

Five-Run Fifth Inning Fans Flames Win Over Wolverines

2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Illinois-Chicago used a five-run fifth-inning rally to claim a 7-4 comeback win over the University of Michigan in college baseball action Friday night (Feb. 27) at White Stadium in the New York Mets spring training complex. The UIC Fames moved their record to 3-1 on the season, while the Wolverines (0-3) still seek their first win of 2004.

Sophomore 3B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS) paced the Wolverine attack in the early going with a double in the second inning and a two-run homer in the fourth as Michigan jumped to a 4-1 lead.

Senior RHP Bobby Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) worked the first 4.1 innings for the Wolverines and he took the loss. Garza allowed six runs on eight hits and he left the game in the fifth with the score tied 4-4. However, the Flames touched sophomore RHP Derek Feldkamp (Adrian, Mich./Blissfield HS) for a pair of run-scoring singles in the fifth as UIC took a 6-4 lead. Feldkamp worked 4.2 innings and was touched for one run of his own as he closed out the game on the mound.

Michigan grabbed a two-run lead after two outs in the second inning as Scheidt's double to right was the first Wolverine hit of the game. Junior/sophomore catcher Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS) singled to drive in Scheidt and then scored on a triple by sophomore shortstop Jeremy Goldschmeding (Martin, Mich./Allegan HS).

UIC scored once in the third, but senior DH Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS) opened the fourth with an infield single and Scheidt drilled a long home run to right.

UIC shortstop Jordan DeVoir's two-run single tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth to chase Garza, and catcher Justin Johnson knocked in the winning run with a single off Feldkamp. Johnson was 2-for-2 with three walks to pace the Flames along with third baseman Nelson Gord's three hits.

Kunkel led the Wolverines with his first four-hit game, while newcomer first baseman Kyle Bohm (Stevens Point, Wis./Area HS) and Scheidt each had two hits.

The weekend series vs. UIC continues Saturday (Feb.28, 3 p.m.) with junior RHP Michael Penn (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian HS) making his first start of the season.

N O T E S

Former Wolverines Jordan Cantalamessa and Gino Lollio, members of last season's team, were on hand during the games at Florida earlier on the trip.

A.J. Scheidt's fourth-inning homer was his second career homer.

Michigan's hitting leaders after the first three games are: catcher Jeff Kunkel at .750 (6-for-8), junior OF Chris Burhans (Alpharetta, Ga./Marist School) at .500 (5-for-10), DH Brandon Roberts at .455 (5-for-11), freshman OF Brad Roblin (Wayland, Mass./Rivers School) at .455 (5-for-11), 3B A.J. Scheidt at .364 (4-for-11) and 1B Kyle Bohm at .308 (4-for-13).

Players with three-game hitting streaks after the first three games are Bohm, Roblin and Roberts.

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423