Steinbach feels clock ticking, shuts down conference rivals

It may be that Michigan pitcher Brian Steinbach just doesn't like Michigan State. As a senior, it is likely that he's been around Ann Arbor long enough to develop a healthy dislike for the green and white.

Look at the numbers. Steinbach is 4-0 against the Spartans in his career, with a stingy 1.88 ERA. He beat them again this weekend, posting a complete game shutout in Michigan's 6-0 win in the latter half of Saturday's doubleheader.

But actually, for Steinbach, the reason for his impressive showing against the Spartans - and over the past three weeks, for that matter - is much more personal.

After a 20-3 shellacking at Illinois on March 27 dropped Steinbach's record to 0-4, the Pawaukee, Wisc. , native had a realization.

"It really hit me that this was my senior year and it could be the last time I ever pitch," Steinbach said. "It's not that I wasn't trying before, but I didn't want to end my career on a sour note, so I had to turn it around."

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Despite some great plays by third baseman Mike Cervenak, the Michigan defense faltered this weekend, commiting eight errors in their four-game series.

And what a turnaround it has been for the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Steinbach. After losing his first four games, Steinbach - Michigan's active leader in career wins - has put together quite a run. He has won three of his past four decisions, and has been durable as well, now leading the team in complete games (2) and innings pitched (45).

And most important, Steinbach is hitting his stride when the Wolverines need it most - right now. This weekend aginst the Spartans, Steinbach was the only Michigan starter to make it past the third inning, as fellow startiers Brian Berryman, Bryan Cranson and J.J. Putz struggled to get batters out and maintain their control. The rest of the rotation gave up 15 runs in under eight innings of work, giving the Spartans early leads that proved difficult for the Wolverines to overcome.

But in Saturday's game, Steinbach kept the Michigan State batters at bay as he posted his second consecutive complete game. He also went the distance in last Saturday's 7-2 win over Minnesota, allowing four hits while notching five strikeouts.

With his performances of late and the rest of the pitchers struggling, Steinbach looks a lot like the team's best pitcher. Which is exactly what he was two years ago, winning the Geoff Zahn Award as Michigan's most valuable pitcher in 1995.

In fact, it may be a little harsh to say that Steinbach was ever struggling. With three of his first four losses coming during Michigan's early-season southern trip - to Texas A&M, Houston and Lamar - Steinbach has pitched well within the Big Ten, accounting for two of the team's six conference victories.

All of which makes the early season losses to the bigger, more experienced southern schools - two of which were close games- seem fairly unimportant.

"I thought I threw some good games against the Southern schools," Steinbach said. "But a hit would fall in here or there, or a call wouldn't go our way. In pitching, there is a fine line between winning and losing," Steinbach said.

With the way he has been pitching recently, there is no doubt as to which side of that fine line Brian Steinbach is on.

04-20-98