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Oklahoma sweeps Michigan in three games

The Michigan baseball team was probably thinking that 11 games in Texas over spring break would prepare the squad for this weekend's three-game series in Oklahoma.

But after their performance against the Sooners, the Wolverines seemed to leave their bats and gloves deep in the heart of Texas.

Some might say they never even took their equipment to Texas, as evidenced by the 10 losses incurred on the trip.

Whatever the case, Michigan needed more than working equipment to beat Oklahoma this weekend.

The Sooners completed a three-game sweep of the Wolverines with a 13-8 win in Norman, Okla., yesterday. This followed Friday's 14-2 drubbing and Saturday's 7-4 loss.

The three wins improved Oklahoma's record to 15-7 and dropped Michigan to 1-13.

In yesterday's defeat, Michigan pitcher Mike Hribernik (1-2) was tagged for 12 runs on 10 hits in four and one-third innings. But three errors led to seven unearned runs.

Oklahoma's Jamie Gannn and Damon Minor belted home runs, and Jesse Zepeda drove in three runs. Minor connected on his third dinger in three games, and ninth total, going 6-for-10 and knocking in 10 runs for the series.

The Sooners used a four-run third and six-run fifth to put the game away. The Wolverines attempted a late-game rally, however, scoring four runs in the eighth and threatening in the ninth with four straight hits.

But Oklahoma converted a game ending double play to cut the rally short, nailing a Michigan runner at the plate.

Michigan was led by Mike Cervenak, who had a four-hit day for the Wolverines, giving the sophomore third baseman eight hits in nine at-bats for the series. Second baseman Kirk Beermann also got four hits.

In Saturday's game, junior Brian Steinbach started and took the loss for Michigan. The Sooners touched Steinbach for seven earned runs in five and two-thirds innings of work.

Minor got things started early for Oklahoma by hitting his eighth homer of the year, a three-run blast, in the first inning.

The Sooners added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and produced two more in the sixth.

Wolverine freshman J.J. Putz pitched well in relief of Steinbach, striking out one and walking one in two and one-third innings, while allowing no runs.

But the performance of the game came from Oklahoma starting pitcher Brian Shackelford, who, after holding Michigan to four hits through eight innings, took a 7-2 lead into the ninth inning.

For the Wolverines, Cervenak hit his first homer of the season, doubled, and knocked in three runs. Freshman Bobby Scales and junior Mick Kalahar also had two hits apiece.

On Friday, the Sooners rocked Michigan starter Mark Temple for four runs -- three of them earned -- on six hits, in just one and one-third innings pitched.

Temple, who as a senior is the Wolverines' top returning starter, fell to 0-3 in the short season.

Freshman hurler Luke Bonner was one of the few bright spots for the Wolverines. Bonner scattered six hits over the final five innings, and three of the four runs scored against him were unearned.

All told, 10 different Oklahoma players hit safely in the game. Minor had a single, double and home run, scored three runs, and had six RBI.

Cervenak led Michigan with two hits and an RBI, while junior shortstop Kelly Dransfeldt hit his first home run of the season.