'M' baseball heads to Kalamazoo to rodeo with Western Michigan

Michigan baseball coach Geoff Zahn and his crew are hoping for a favorable forecast today as they make their first midwest appearance of the season.

And for Zahn and company, an ideal forecast means not only favorable weather, but also a consistant showing on the field as Michigan battles Western Michigan this afternoon at 3 p.m.

Currently 7-10 on the season, today's game marks the first for the Wolverines not being played in California, Texas or Florida. The Wolverines' home opener is still a week away.

And despite the cooler temperatures expected in Kalamazoo, Zahn does not expect the weather to factor into today's contest.

"I think that we're ready to play in Michigan," Zahn said in his WTKA radio interview yesterday. "We've been outside here in Ann Arbor and we know what to expect. I'm confident that we're ready to go, and I'm happy that it's a game that doesn't require a lot of travel or flying."

On the heels of an offensively dominated 17-15 win over Nevada-Las Vegas on Monday, Michigan will be looking for its second win in as many tries after breaking out of a slump that saw the Wolverines drop six of their previous seven games.

Yet Zahn said he's happy with his team's early-season performance against some of the top teams in the country.

"I feel really good about where we are right now as a team," Zahn said. "We've played very well against some fine teams in what has to be considered one of the toughest non-conference schedules around."

And while their performance may not have translated into victories for the Wolverines, Zahn said that strong outings against No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 10 Texas A&M, among others, will help Michigan improve recognition and gain confidence.

"It's tough to play so many talented teams so early." Zahn said. "Especially considering that some of them have played 30 or so games, and we haven't even played at home yet.

"Our kids would've preferred to have a winning record, but we've played well."

Particularly impressed with his team's pitching in the early going, Zahn said he knows that as the season wears on, pressure on his hurlers will continue to mount.

"We have to play so many games so quickly up here that pitching is really going to come into play," Zahn said.

But it wasn't pitching or defense that defined Michigan's last contest. And after posting an impressive 17 runs on 14 hits in Monday's game, Michigan is hoping today to provide the same type of offensive explosion.

"The guys are starting to stay with it," Zahn said. "Monday, we saw them start to swing the bats very well. We need that to continue."

03-24-99