'M' Nine drops four

By Dan Williams

Daily Sports Editor

In a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions, the descending Michigan baseball team dropped four straight games to an ascendant Penn State team that suddenly finds itself alone in first place in the Big Ten.

Michigan put together a quality hitting effort in the finale after three good pitching efforts in their weekend series at Penn State. But the Nittany Lions had a better hitting effort after three better pitching efforts, which led to the four-game sweep.

The latest loss for Michigan was an 18-9 drubbing yesterday. Freshman Jordan Cantalamessa belted his third homerun of the season in the second inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome the efforts of Penn State stars Shawn Fagan and Michael Campo.

Sophomore starting pitcher Bobby Wood took it on the chin for Michigan, giving up seven earned runs on ten hits in less than four innings. Sophomore Jeff Trzos was also smoked in relief, allowing eight earned runs in 1.1 innings.

Michigan's nine runs Sunday surpassed the five combined runs they scored against the Nittany Lions in the previous three games. On Friday, Michigan fell 3-1, and in the two games of Saturday's doubleheader, the Wolverines lost 4-1 and 6-3, respectively.

"The first three games we were in it," Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said. "They just got the key hits when they needed it."

With the four losses, Michigan (6-14 Big Ten, 15-25-1 overall) finds itself on the brink of elimination from Big Ten contention once again. The Wolverines were in seventh place before dropping the four games to Penn State. They have to finish in the top six in the conference to make the tournament.

The best thing the Michigan nine has going for it is that six of the Wolverines' final eight games are against Michigan State and Iowa, two of the weaker teams in the conference.

"I think we can still make the playoffs," Zahn said.

BRIAN QUINN/Daily

Stefanie Volpe was just one of many Wolverines who got untracked at the plate against Indiana State last Thursday. Michigan swept a pair from the Sycamores.