Hammond, Mahler Lead U-M to Shutout of Penn State

Friday, May 12

State College, Pa.

2:05 PM

Michigan

31-17, 17-8

Penn State

18-30, 11-14

Michigan

Penn State

5/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Fifth-year senior LHP Paul Hammond (Mason, Ohio/Mason), making his first Friday start in a Big Ten series, pitched 7.2 innings of shutout baseball and junior shortstop Leif Mahler (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) had three hits and scored four runs as the University of Michigan defeated Penn State 7-0 in the series opener Friday (May 12) at Beaver Field.

With the win the Wolverines (31-17, 17-8) moved into first place alone since Northwestern did not play on Friday as the NU series vs. Michigan State was moved back to Saturday through Monday (May 13-15).

Hammond moved his record to 6-3 with his fifth straight Big Ten win and his fourth straight conference win on the road. He pitched hitless baseball for five innings and ended up allowing four hits and did not have a strikeout in the win over Penn State (18-30, 11-14). Hammond has allowed just five earned runs in his last 44.1 innings in conference play and he dropped his overall ERA to 2.60.

Sophomore/freshman Michael Powers (St. Clair Shores, Mich./South Lake) worked the final 1.1 innings to close out the shutout in a non-save situation.

Freshman DH Zach Putnam (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), who is expected to start one of Saturday's (May 13) games on the mound, served as the DH in the series opener and was 2-for-3 with a walk and with three RBI, including his first game-winner as a Wolverine.

With the loss Penn State drops out of a three-way tie for fifth place with Minnesota and Purdue. Purdue's Friday game at Iowa was suspended due to rain in the fifth inning and will continue on Saturday (May 13) at noon with Iowa leading 4-2.

The Wolverines grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning as junior shortstop Mahler walked, moved to second on a single by sophomore first baseman Nate Recknagel (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion), and scored on a single by DH Putnam, who was making his first DH start since the home opener vs. Oakland (March 24).

Junior CF Eric Rose (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield) singled to open the third, and he stole second base for his 25th steal of the season. Mahler tried to call time at the plate but when it wasn't granted he lined a double down the rightfield line to make the score 2-0. Recknagel singled through the left side of the infield to move Mahler to third base, and 2B Doug Pickens (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice) singled to make the score 3-0. PSU senior LHP Alan Stidfole settled down and got Putnam to ground into a double play, and fifth-year senior catcher Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) grounded to short to end the third inning.

Hammond worked a 1-2-3 third and he faced four batters in the fourth, allowing a one-out walk to DH Scott Gummo, who has now reached base in 24 straight games.

Mahler walked with one out in the fifth and Recknagel bounced his third single over the head of PSU third baseman Matt Cavagnaro. With two outs Putnam lined a double down the line in left, driving in two runs and making the score 5-0. The hit was Putnam's second of the game as he doubled both his total of hits and doubles. Kunkel lined to second to end the inning.

Hammond retired the first two batters in the fifth before hitting CF Travis Laird with a pitch and walking leadoff batter Brian Ernst. He got the third out as 3B Cavagnaro forced Ernst at second base.

Senior 3B A.J. Scheidt (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser) singled in he sixth and stole second base, but Stidfole got the next two batters.

PSU LF Lance Thompson blooped a double to right-center to open the sixth inning for the first hit off Hammond. Gummo grounded to short and Leitgeb lined to 2B Pickens for an unassisted double play to end the inning.

Michigan loaded the bases in the seventh as Mahler singled, Pickens was hit by a pitch and Putnam drew a two-out walk. Kunkel singled through the left side to make the score 7-0, chasing Stidfole (3-4) from the game. Mahler scored for the fourth time in the game.

Hammond faced three batters in the seventh, allowing a single to catcher Aaron Greenfield but getting a double play started by SS Mahler, and in the eighth inning Hammond retired the first two batters before giving up back-to-back singles to Cavagnaro and Thompson.

Sophomore/freshman Powers replaced Hammond and retired Gummo on a grounder to third to end the inning. Powers allowed a walk in the four batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Mahler and Recknagel each had three hits in the opener vs. Penn State to account for six of the 14 hits. The Wolverines have reached double digits in hits 25 times in 2006.

The Wolverines continue the weekend series at Penn State as they play a doubleheader at Beaver Field on Saturday (May 13) with sophomore/freshman Chris Fetter (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and freshman RHP Putnam listed as the probable starters on the mound. Fetter is 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA, while Putnam is 4-1 with a team-leading 2.45 ERA.

N O T E S

Michigan moved into first place alone with the 7-0 win over Penn State. The Michigan State series at Northwestern and the Illinois at Indiana series were both adjusted to Saturday to Monday (May 13-15) due to potential bad weather. In the Friday night games Ohio State defeated Minnesota 10-2, while Iowa was leading Purdue 4-2 in the fifth inning when rain caused the suspension of the game. The Purdue-Iowa game will resume Saturday at noon.

Big Ten Standings (through 5/12/06)

 1. MICHIGAN 17-8 .680 2. Northwestern 16-8 .667 3. Ohio State 16-9 .640 4. Illinois 12-12 .500 5. Minnesota 11-13 .458 Purdue 11-13 .458 7. Penn State 11-14 .440 Minnesota 11-14 .440 8. Iowa 10-14 .417 Michigan State 10-14 .417 10. Indiana 8-16 .333

CF Eric Rose colleted his team-leading 25th stolen base in the win Friday at Penn State as he pushed his career total of steals at Michigan to 49. He ranks fourth on U-M's all-time stolen base list with Rodney Goble (52, 1992-95) next on the list in third place. Jim Durham (1986-89) holds both the single season (38 in 1987) and career (74) stolen bases records for the Wolverines. The 25th steal of the season tied Rose with Steve Finken (25, 1988) for the fifth best single-season steal total for the Wolverines. Durham's total of 26 steals in 1989 is the fourth best total, and Finken's 27 in 1987 is the third best total.

Michigan's leading hitters after 48 games are: 1B/C/DH Nate Recknagel (60-for-161, .373), CF Eric Rose (56-for-154, .364), SS Leif Mahler (55-for-153, .359), C Jeff Kunkel (61-for-171, .357) and 2B/OF Doug Pickens (52-for-174, .299).

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423