Wolverines Drop Opener After UAB's Ninth-Inning Rally

Friday, February 24

Dothan, Ala.

3:00 PM CT

Michigan

0-1

UAB

3-1

Alabama Birmingham

Michigan

Wolverines Drop Opener After UAB's Ninth-Inning Rally

2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

DOTHAN, Ala. -- Sophomore first baseman Billy Lichtner's two-run single capped a four-run ninth-inning rally as Alabama-Birmingham spoiled the University of Michigan's 2006 baseball season opener by a 5-4 margin in first-day action at the Wiregrass Classic, hosted by Troy University at Northcutt Field at Westgate Park.

Lichtner paced the offense for UAB (3-1), collecting two of the six hits for the Blazers and driving in three of their five runs. He put UAB on the scoreboard with a solo homer in the third inning and knocked in the tying and winning runs in the top of the ninth.

U-M fifth-year senior LHP Drew Taylor (Toronto, Ontario/Upper Canada College) pitched eight innings with a no-decision in the game. Taylor allowed just four hits and struck out five batters, and he left the game with two runners on and no outs with a 4-1 lead in the ninth. Taylor had four 1-2-3 innings and faced just four batters in the other four innings while facing just 30 batters in his 25th career start as a Wolverine.

Senior RHP Jeff Niemiec (Livonia, Mich./Catholic Central), the second of four Wolverine pitchers in the ninth inning, took the loss. Niemiec (0-1) hit the first batter he faced to load the bases and gave up a two-run single to 3B Zac Ward to make the score 4-3. Lichtner's game-winning single came off fifth-year senior Ali Husain (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti). Senior RHP Craig Murray (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) retired the only batter he faced to close out the inning.

After Taylor opened the game facing three batters in the top of the first inning, the Wolverines (0-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame as junior SS Leif Mahler (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) collected the first U-M hit of the year with a single and advanced to second as freshman DH Adam Abraham (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./South HS) hit a grounder that was booted at short. Abraham reached base in his first four collegiate plate appearances, later drawing three consecutive walks.

Fifth-year senior catcher Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) hit a single to left to drive in Mahler with the first run of the year for the Wolverines.

Junior outfielders Brad Roblin (Wayland, Mass./Rivers School) and Eric Rose (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield) combined for another run in the second inning as Roblin singled up the middle, stole second base, and scored on a two-out single by Rose.

Rose had another two-out RBI single in the eighth inning as he drove in sophomore RF Doug Pickens (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice). Pickens had a pair of singles in the game and has five hits in his first two U-M season openers.

The Wolverines put the tying run on base with one out in the bottom of the ninth as Kunkel collected his third hit of the game. Senior Mike Schmidt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) ran for Kunkel and grabbed second with a stolen base. He moved to third after a drive to right by sophomore 1B Derek VanBuskirk (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair). UAB RF J.W. Donahue saved the game with the catch on VanBuskirk, who had driven in U-M's third run in the seventh inning with a fielder's choice grounder to score Mahler.

UAB sophomore RHP Brandon Flaherty retired senior 3B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lasher HS) on a line drive to center to end the game and record his first career save.

Kunkel and Rose each had three singles to pace the 11-hit Wolverine attack in the opener, while Mahler and Pickens each had two.

Fifth-year senior LHP Paul Hammond (Mason, Ohio/Mason HS) is expected to start Saturday night (Feb. 25, 6 p.m. CST) against Wiregrass Classic host Troy University. Hammond was 4-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 2005 and has a 9-4 career record as a Wolverine.

N O T E S

Fifth-year senior Drew Taylor recorded five strikeouts against UAB to push his overall career strikeout total to 100. He has 95 K's as a Wolverine after notching five as a freshman at Georgia Tech. Taylor and UAB RHP Chandler Miller, both transfers, were roommates at Georgia Tech as true freshmen in 2002 for former Wolverine assistant coach Danny Hall.

Junior OF Eric Rose, playing in his first spring trip game of his U-M career, moved closer to the century mark in career hits (98) with his sixth career three-hit game. Rose, who missed playing in his first two spring trips due to injuries, has his 98 hits in 93 games at U-M.

Wolverines that continued mini hit streaks held over from last season include Mahler at five games, Kunkel at four games, and Rose and Pickens at two games each.

Fifth-year senior LHP Ali Husain made his 62nd career appearances to snap a tie for ninth on the all-time U-M list with Nick Alexander (61 appearances, 1998-2001). He is one appearance behind former teammate Derek Feldkamp (63, 2003-05) for eighth place and is two behind Bobby Korecky (64, 1999-2002) for seventh.

Michigan's leading hitters after the opener are C Jeff Kunkel (3-for-4, .750), CF Eric Rose (3-for-5, 600), SS Leif Mahler (2-for-4, .500), RF Doug Pickens (2-for-4, .500) and LF Brad Roblin (1-for-4, .250).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423