'M' looks to build on weekend wins

Michigan baseball coach Geoff Zahn made it clear early in the season that his team's intentions for this year were unwavering.

"We want to win the Big Ten," Zahn said last month.

"That's our primary concern and really one of our biggest goals. If your aim is anything less than its wrong."

A month later, that objective has yet to change. But as things have began to fall into place midway through the conference season, the Wolverines have developed a clearer sense of what it might take.

And after this weekend's redeeming split with second-place Minnesota, Michigan knows that reaching the Big Ten's top spot may not be out of reach despite suffering a series of setbacks.

DANA LINNANE/Daily Michigan first baseman Brian Besco and the rest of the Wolverines will travel to Grand Rapids to play Notre Dame at Old Kent Park today.

"This weekend's wins kind of gave us a boost," Outfielder Jason Alcaraz said.

"After coming out strong against Minnesota we kind of got back the confidence we may have lost after losing to Oakland last week."

Today, Michigan will look to build on a 21-19 mark and the momentum generated by the weekend wins over the Gophers as they battle Notre Dame in a non-conference meeting.

Second place in the Big East last season, Notre Dame enters today contest with a 14-2 conference record, boosted by Sunday's come-from-behind win over Boston College.

In addition to giving Michigan a chance to face a tough non-conference opponent, the venue for today's match-up is something the Wolverines say makes them look forward to today's game even more.

The game is being played at Old Kent Park, home of Detroit Tigers' Class A affiliate the West Michigan Whitecaps. The neutral site affords both teams a chance to experience the amenities of a professional park.

"I'm really looking forward to playing there," Alcaraz said.

"Its really a great place to play a game, I played there once when I was a sophomore. The field is well-cared for and its able to hold a lot of fans. It's just a fun environment."

If playing in Old Kent Park will be fun, playing against the Irish won't be as enjoyable in all likelihood.

And though Michigan enjoys an all-time 69-36 series lead over Notre Dame, they'll be expecting a fierce Irish squad today.

"We haven't seen them this year but they are tough," Alcaraz said.

"They are usually a very good team and this year their right up there again."

Whatever the outcome of today's contest, Michigan will be allowed a ten-day reprieve from play before resuming conference play against Michigan State on April 30.

And that break couldn't have come at a better time said Alcaraz.

"We're going to go hard against Notre Dame and then use the ten-day layoff to regroup and refocus," Alcaraz said.

"It'll be nice to have that time to heal up some injuries and rest a little before getting back into the swing of things."

The rested and recuperated Wolverines will return from their hiatus to face intra-state rival Michigan State in a game that is difficult for Michigan to take lightly.

Despite stumbling to a ninth-place finish in the conference a year ago with an 8-16 mark, Michigan State narrowly missed sweeping the Wolverines in their season series.

And with even more on the line this season, the fourth-place Wolverines have their sights set on the upset-minded fifth-ranked Spartans.

"That's a game that obviously is very important," Alcaraz said.

"Its one we tend to get up for a little bit more, we not about to come out unprepared."

04-20-99