The first 500 Michigan baseball fans to be admitted to today's series-opener with Ohio State will find themselves the lucky recipients of a free T-shirt.
But Michigan coach Geoff Zahn knows its going to take more than mere luck if his Wolverines want to escape this weekend's match-up with their shirts on their backs. Michigan's battle with the Buckeyes begins at 3 pm and stretches over a four-game series.
Unlike shirts for the Michigan faithful, things won't come easy for Zahn's club as they set to square off with Big Ten pacesetter Ohio State. The Buckeyes enter today's contest looking to extend a 13-game win streak that has propelled the squad to a perfect, 4-0 conference mark.
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| DANA LINNANE/Daily Michigan pitcher Bryan Cranson and the Michigan baseball team battle new conference-leader Ohio State in a four-game series beginning today at 3 p.m. The first 500 fans who come to today's game will receive a free T-shirt.
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The wins helped Michigan climb to a 17-13 standing on the season after splitting last weekend's home series against then-conference leading Illinois.
Yet despite his club's non-conference fowl slaying in the drubbings of the Falcons and Eagles, Zahn says his club realizes the importance of this weekend's conference showdown.
"There's no question it's a big weekend for us," Zahn said. "We knew coming into last weekend that our next three would see us face people ranked ahead of us."
And after giving Illinois its only two conference losses of the year, No. 5 Michigan will look for more of the same as they host the Buckeyes in this weekend's four-game home stand before travelling to Minnesota to face the third-ranked Gophers.
To contend against the fearsome Buckeyes, who enter the game on the heels of a 16-1 steamrolling of Ashland, Zahn says the Wolverines must continue the type of play that has boosted them to a 5-3 conference record.
"We need to play heads up, concentrate and just continue to play our game," Zahn said
But that likely will prove to be no easy task against an Ohio State squad that has bewildered opponents all season long in building its 19-6 season mark. The Buckeyes weren't without a bit of offensive muscle Tuesday, as the team tallied a total of 23 hits in upending Ashland while every Ohio State starter earned a hit in the game's first three innings.
Not to be outdone, Michigan's offensive prowess this week has given fans something to cheer about, while bolstering Zahn's optimism for his team's chances this weekend.
"We swung the bats pretty well," Zahn said. "With the wind blowing the way it was, getting 12 runs on 12 hits was nice to see. This weeks' wins were just two more solid wins. We need to keep that going as we head into the weekend."
Leading the Wolverines into this weekend will likely be right-hander Luke Bonner, who looks for his fourth win. The veteran hurler leads his team with 35 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched this year, while tossing two complete games in four starts.
Meanwhile offensively, Michigan second baseman Bobby Scales will look to up his current hit streak to 14 games, while the senior co-captain has reached base safely in every game this season.
Who:
Michigan vs. Ohio State
Where:
Ray Fisher Stadium
When: 3 p.m.
On The Line: The Big Ten best Buckeyes will look for their 13th consecutive win as they open a four-game series with Michigan. The first 500 fans to the Fish will receive a free T-shirt.
04-09-99
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