Michigan Battle Cats at South Bend SilverHawks
April 7th, 2002
| Michigan |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
12 |
1 |
| South Bend |
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|
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
6 |
3 |
E-Lydic, Lopez, Haydel, Nichols, LOB MIC-9, SB-4, 2B-Rodriguez, Conrad, Shelf, Stegall, Mote, Nichols 2, DiRosa, Janz, HR-Lydic (Perkin), SB-Rodriguez
SO-Conrad 2, Lentini, Shelf 3, Lydic, Lucas, Lopez, Haydel, Hairston 2, Loeb, Vugteveen, Barrett, Garcia, BB-Lentini, Hairston
U-Reyburn, Uhl
T-2:35, A-747
Battle Creek Enquirer
Michigan climbed back to .500 on the season with it's second straight one run victory, knocking off South Bend, 4-3 in Midwest League action on Sunday.
After losing it's first two games of the year, the Battle Cats are now 2-2.
Joe Lydic came up with his first hot of the season, a two run homer, to lead the 12 hit attack for the Cats. Mike Rodriguez added three hits.
Russ Rohlicek earned the win, pitching six strong shutout innings, allowing just two hits, Jory Coughenour earned the save.
South Bend Tribune
If the Michigan Battle Cats' offense continues to build momentum at it's present pace, manager John Massarelli would be more than pleased.
Through their first three games, the Battle Cats had 14 hits, eight of those on Saturday, then Sunday slapped a dozen hits around Coveleski Stadium. In a 4-3 victory over South Bend.
"It seemed about 10 degrees warmer here today than it did (Saturday) night at (Battle Creek)," Massarelli said.
Only about 200 of the fans among the 747 who bought tickets showed up as the SilverHawks dropped to 1-3 in the Midwest League season.
Russ Rohlicek, a 6 for 5 left hander from California who was Houston's sixth round draft choice last summer, zeroed the Hawks on two hits through six innings.
"I grew up in northern California, it gets pretty cold there, and I've spent time with my sister in Muskegeon, but hadn't pitched in 30 degree weather before." said Rohlicek, who threw just 65 pitches through six innings.
"I threw mostly fast balls, the curve was like throwing a rock." added Rohlicek, who struck out five, walked one and allowed only two hits, a double by Kyle Nichols in the second and another by Mike DiRosa in the fifth.
Added Massarelli, "I would have liked to have left him in there, if it was July we would have, but he was on a six inning limit."
A two run homer by third baseman Joe Lydic off South Bend starter Greg perkin turned out to be the difference. Perkin had matters under control for three innings, but allowed single runs in the fourth and fifth before Lydic's blast to left center in the sixth made it 4-0.
Perkin struck out five and walked one in 5 1/3 innings.
The SilverHawks almost tied it in sixth.
Michigan reliever Brandon Wood gave up hits to the first three batters he faced, Scott Hairston, Kyle Nichols (a double) and Bryan Loeb. Loeb's hit prodruced his fifth and sixth RBIs of the season. Loeb was forced by Dustin Vugteveen, but after a Michigan error, Vugteveen scored on a pinch double by Jeramy Janz.
South Bend had the tying run on third and the lead run on second with one out.
"You've got to put the ball in play in that situation," said South Bend manager Dick Schofield. It didn't happen.
The third Michigan pitcher Jory Coughenour, struck out Lino Garcia and got Mike Lopez on an inning ending ground ball. Coughenour then knocked down the Hawks in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Centerfield Mike Rodriguez had three hits, including a double for the Cats.
"We must have hit at least six line drives that were caught," said Schofield
Nichols had two doubles. Rightfielder Richie Barrett turning in a couple of defensive gems, a sliding catch against Brooks Conrad in the sixth and a throw to third to catch Matt Lucas in the fifth. Lucas was trying to go from first to third on a hit by Rodriguez.
"You're looking at a pretty good athlete in Barrett," Schofield said. Eight of the day's 18 hits were doubles.