U-M Eliminated from Big Ten Tournament by Penn State

Friday, May 25

Ann Arbor, Mich.

12:05 PM

Michigan

39-16

Penn State

30-25

Penn State

Michigan

5/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 1-seeded University of Michigan baseball team was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament by No. 3 seed Penn State by a 6-5 count in 10 innings Friday afternoon (May 25). U-M erased a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning only to watch PSU's Cory Wine -- the coach's son -- tally the game-winning hit with a solo home run in the 10th.

Michigan (39-16), which won the Big Ten regular-season championship, will learn its NCAA Tournament fate at 12:30 p.m. Monday (May 28) during the NCAA selection show on ESPN.

Despite taking the loss, Michael Powers (St. Clair Shores, Mich./South Lake) put forth a stellar effort in relief. The home run by Wine was the only hit Powers allowed in 4.2 innings. He struck out seven, including two when he entered the game in the sixth with a runner on third.

The Wolverines' ninth-inning comeback occurred while facing Penn State closer Drew O'Neil. The first two batters reached base -- Derek VanBuskirk (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair) on a single, Kevin Cislo (Novi, Mich./Novi) on an error -- and then advanced on a wild pitch. Consecutive RBI groundouts made it a one-run game. Eric Rose (Blissfield, Mich./Blissfield) got a lucky bounce to keep the game alive as his grounder shot up and over the shortstop. Nate Recknagel (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) pushed Rose to third with a hit, and Zach Putnam (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) drove in the tying run by singling to right.

Similar to Thursday night against Ohio State, Michigan got into trouble in the first inning as the first two batters reached base, each on a single. Following a sacrifice bunt, Joe Blackburn struck out on a ball in the dirt but reached first when the throw was dropped by first baseman Recknagel. Penn State capitalized with two outs as Mike Deese lined a single to leftfield to bring in two unearned runs.

The Wolverines tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning on three singles and a couple of productive groundouts. Recknagel and Putnam singled to center and left, respectively. A soft grounder to the second baseman by Adam Abraham (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./South) was as good as a sacrifice, and another ground ball to second by Doug Pickens (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice) drove in Recknagel. VanBuskirk came up with Michigan's first clutch hit of the tournament when his two-out single to centerfield plated Putnam.

Penn State retook the lead a half inning later when Wine ripped a triple down the rightfield line with runners on first and second and two outs. Matt Cavagnero singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a flyout, U-M intentionally walked Blackburn, which brought Wine to the plate.

Another PSU triple -- this one by Garrett Field -- brought home a run in the sixth inning to increase the Lions' lead to 5-2. Powers entered the game following the triple and promptly struck out Cavagnero and Scott Gaffney.

N O T E S

Michigan has been eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament in the minimum two games on just one other occasion (1996). U-M made its 19th Big Ten Tournament appearance this weekend.

Michigan has hosted the Big Ten Tournament nine times, including the current tournament. The Wolverines had used the home-field advantage to win four Big Ten Tournament crowns, most recently in 2006.

Nate Recknagel recorded his team-leading 24th multi-hit game of the season. Recknagel was 3-for-5 with a run scored this afternoon.

Doug Pickens and Derek VanBuskirk were U-M's top hitters during the Big Ten Tournament. They each went 4-for-9 (.444) at the plate.

Eric Rose's stolen base in the fifth inning was his 33rd of the season, setting a career high. Rose's 33 stolen bases this year are the second-highest single-season total by a Wolverine. The record is 38 by Jim Durham (1987). Rose also has the third-highest total with 32 stolen bases in 2006. Rose's 87 career stolen bases are a U-M record.

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423