DETROIT- The Michigan baseball team left the Detroit-Mercy baseball team, well, crying for mercy yesterday after handing the Titans a 23-2 shellacking on their home field.
The Wolverines set season bests in total runs (23), most hits in a game (24), most runs in an inning (eight) sending 11 men to the plate in the sixth, and most home runs in a game (first).
The Wolverines' batsmen had a field day as strong winds allowed just about every fly ball to carry deep into the outfield or over the wall. Wolverines Brian Bush (two home runs on the season), Mike Seestedt (two), Jason Alcaraz (four), Jay Dines (one), and Bill LaRosa (one) all went yard to lead the Michigan slugfest.
But the Wolverines found success both with and without the long ball. Michigan senior co-captain Bobby Scales extended his hitting streak to nine games, going three-for-four with a walk and two RBI. Alcaraz added a double and a single to his three r
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| DANA LINNANE/Daily Bobby Scales and the Michigan baseball team swapped their home whites for road blues - but it was Detroit-Mercy that was singing the blues after a 23-2 browbeating. |
"Yeah, we had five home runs," Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said. "But I was pleased with the way everyone hit the ball today. We were able to hit the ball the opposite way and hit balls through the infield to bring guys home, not just with home runs.
Zahn was also pleased with the performances of Wolverine reserves C.J. Ghannam who had two hits, two RBI and a stolen base, and Bill LaRosa, who had three hits including a two-run round tripper.
"You like to get innings for guys who don't have much game experience," Zahn said. "It's important to get your guys in there so if there is an injury they're ready to go."
Despite the gaudy numbers the Wolverines put up at the plate, the most impressive facet of yesterday's game was the pitching.
Michigan sophomore Nick Alexander upped his record to 2-0 on the season without breaking a sweat. Alexander left the game with the Wolverines ahead 4-1 after pitching just two innings, and allowing one run on three hits.
His replacement, Kirk Taylor, allowed hits to the first two men he faced, but dominated the Titans from there on in. Taylor left the game having pitched four innings of shut-out baseball, while allowing just three hits and recording five strikeouts. Taylor's performance was especially impressive considering he entered the game with an 0-1 record and an ERA of 54.00.
Taylor's freshman teammate Jeff Trzos was equally impressive. Trzos pitched two innings and allowed one run on just one hit while also striking out five.
"It was a great day for the two freshman," Zahn said. "It was good for them because they had both been struggling a little bit and this was a great opportunity for them to get some action. With the wind blowing out the way it was the whole staff that had to pitch really well today to hold Detroit to only two runs."
Michigan senior Robbie Reid kept his ERA at zero for the season as he finished off the Titans by pitching a scoreless ninth.
Michigan could not have been happier with the entire team's performance.
"We came out and swung the bat well and got good pitching," Scales said. "You can't do much better than scoring 23 runs on 24 hits. We knew that if we overlooked this team and looked ahead to Illinois that they could sneak up and beat us. "It's fun to have games like this where everyone hits. We need a game like this every now and then."
The Wolverines open a four-game home series with Illinois Friday afternoon.
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