Michigan Battle Cats at South Bend SilverHawks
April 10th, 2002
| Michigan |
|
|
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
10 |
8 |
0 |
| South Bend |
|
|
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
7 |
12 |
4 |
E-Lopez, Hairston, Nichols 2, Vugteveen, LOB MIC-8, SB-7, 2B-Shelf, Garcia, Lopez, Nichols, Loeb 2, DiRosa, HR-Hairston (Burns), SB-Conrad, Lentini, Rojas, HBP-Rojas, Vugteveen, SACF-Nichols
HB-Burns, Bulger, WP-Burns, Wood, Bulger 2, BK-Burns, SO-Rodriguez 2, Conrad, Shelf, Checksfield, Mote 2, Lydic 2, Lucas, Rojas, Lopez, Hairston, Nichols, Barrett, DiRosa, BB-Rodriguez, Lentini 2, Shelf, Mote, Rojas, Garcia
T-3:16, A-974
U-Uhlemhopp, Reyburn
Battle Creek Enquirer
While pitching helped the Battle Cats win the first three games of a road series with South Bend, it was the bats that helped complete the sweep on Wednesday.
The Cats rattled off nine hits and drew seven walks to earn a 10-7 victory.
The SilverHawks scored four runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead and chase starter Mike Burns, but the Cats answered quickly with five of their own in the sixth inning.
The Cats parlayed three singles, two errors, a walk and a hit batter into those five runs.
Reliever Brandon Wood (1-0) earned the win and Jory Coughenour got his second save of the season.
The win is the fifth straight for the Cats (5-2 after an 0-2 start. South Bend is now 1-6 on the year.
South Bend Tribune
by Forrest Miller
A dozen hits, including six doubles and a two run homer, normally would provide enough offense to win a baseball game.
But that impressive production was negated by five errors Wednesday night as Michigan's Battle Cats rallied for five runs in the sixth inning and a 10-7 Midwest League victory over South Bend.
Only three of Michigan's runs were earned as the Battle Cats were earned as the Battle Cats completed the sweep of the four game series and handed the SilverHawks their fifth loss in a row.
"Those errors are part of the game you don't want to see happen, but they did", said South Bend manager Dick Schofield. "In every game we've lost we had a chance to win, we just can't put anybody away."
First round draft pick Jason Bulger, who walked no one in six innings during his first outing last week. Wednesday walked three in the first inning as the Battle Cats scored twice.
Bulger had a couple of easy innings, and after his teammates scored four times int he fifth to take a 7-5 lead, was in a position to win.
But Michigan, helped by errors from mike Lopez and Kyle Nichols scored five unearned runs to take a 10-7 lead. Cliff McMachen had his problems in relief before Pete Sikaras and Cory Medlin each gave the SilverHawks a shutout inning of relief.
"Jason had a good changeup, but everything works off of his fastball," notes Schofield, "He fell behind and gave up some sloppy runs. Overall we hit well enough to win, but that dosen't mean anything if we continue this way, good things will happen."
Pitching coach James Keller offered the opinion that "things came and went for Jason tonight. He had some tough innings, and some easy ones. Remember that he is still finding his way and learing on the job."
Michigan starter Mike Burns also had his problems, but his defense was perfect. All seven runs he allowed were earned, including two on Scott Hairston's first homer of the season. Lino Garcia had walked ahead of the homer.
Hairston, Nichols, Bryan Loeb and Mike DiRosa each had two hits for South Bend.
Michigan rightfielder Steve Checksfield drove in four runs with two hits and an infield groundout. Brooks Conrad and Trevor Mote each had two hits for the Battle Cats, who have won five in a row after an 0-2 start.
Situational baseball is a strong suit for the Battle Cats, who while sweeping a double header from the SilverHawks on Tuesday scored 11 of their 13 runs after two were out.
On Wednesday, after loading the bases with nobody out in the sixth, th visitors were able to execute against McMachen.
Both Mike Rodriguez and Conrad drove RBI ground balls to the right side of the infield, tying the score. Then, with two out, the BattleCats scored three more on a walk, Nichols error and Checksfield hit.
Brandon Wood, the second of four Michigan pitchers, was the benefactor of the five run sixth inning to earn his first victory.