'M' downs Hoosiers' hopes

Cellars are cold, dark places that most sane people try to avoid.

Michigan first baseman Bryan Besco isn't a big fan of cellars. He found his team stuck in a deep one entering this weekend, the final series of the season at Indiana.

But Besco's hitting yesterday and strong pitching performances from Brian Berryman and J.J. Putz may be enough to pull the Wolverines out of the dreaded Big Ten cellar.

Michigan (8-15 Big Ten, 20-27 overall) swept the Hoosiers convincingly in both ends of a doubleheader yesterday, 6-3 and 6-1. Indiana (14-13, 29-26) won the series opener Saturday, 11-8.

"We were much more relaxed," said Besco, who sat out the last six games because of an ulcer. "Our goal was just to get out of the cellar. We were having much more fun out there " yesterday.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Michigan second baseman Scott Tousa rounds third base as coach Chris Harrison waves him home.

The victories ended a six-game conference drought during which the Wolverines let any hopes of a Big Ten playoff berth slip away. Michigan concludes its disappointing season with one game today against Indiana.

The renewed confidence that yesterday's victories gave Michigan was important. But the day was absolutely devastating for the Hoosiers, who were battling Penn State in the standings for the fourth and final playoff spot. Indiana's season also ends tomorrow because the Nittany Lions took two of three from Purdue this weekend.

Resurged by a healthy Besco at first base, Michigan took a commanding lead early in the first game. With one out and the bases loaded, Besco singled to center, bringing in two runs.

The Wolverines held on to a slim 4-3 lead behind a strong pitching performance from Berryman. But Besco proved his importance to Michigan again with a two-run homer in the seventh, giving his team a three-run cushion. Michigan's reliable closer Tyler Steketee came in and slammed the door on Indiana, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

"We've played a whole lot better this week," Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said. His club also beat Eastern Michigan last Wednesday, 8-5. "You're team looks a whole lot better when you get good pitching out of them."

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Third baseman Mike Cervenak has collected four hits in 13 at-bats this weekend with two doubles and a home run. Most would be content with those numbers, but Cervenak is chasing .400, and he'll need a big day today to accomplish that feat.

The Wolverines fared a whole lot better than they have all season in the second game, thanks to J.J. Putz. Like Besco, Putz has had to battle back from nagging injuries and the staff's hardest thrower hasn't made much of a contribution until recently.

Putz pitched his second consecutive quality start, and he didn't let the bullpen blow it this time. Putz went the distance, allowing only one run on four Indiana hits.

"Yesterday was Putz's best performance of the year," Zahn said. "That was the best he's thrown in a long time."

Michigan didn't need much offense yesterday, but Bobby Scales and Mike Cervenak provided the little it did. Scales went two-for-four in the nightcap and has recorded five hits in 10 at- bats so far this series.

Cervenak doubled in two of Michigan's three go-ahead runs in the fifth inning of the second game, which proved ample run support for Putz to work with. Cervenak, who entered the weekend with a lofty .396 batting average, has been Michigan's silver lining all season, offensively and defensively.

But the third baseman's performance this weekend, while stellar, was actually detrimental to his quest for the elusive .400 mark. Despite a home run on Saturday and two doubles yesterday, Cervenak's average actually dipped four points.

Cervenak's 13th homer of the season came in a losing effort Saturday. Michigan starter Brian Steinbach, who emerged as the staff ace last season, bowed out of his college career after only three and 1/3 innings. He was rocked for six runs and eventually lost his seventh game of a rough season.

05-11-98