Michigan Stays In First

Michigan maintained its hold on first place in the Big Ten Saturday with a sweep at State College. Michigan's Chris Fetter and Penn State's Mike Wanamaker got into an old fashioned pitcher's duel in the opener which the Wolverines took, 1-0. Both Fetter and Wanamaker tossed seven-inning complete games. Fetter gave up four hits, three walks while pitching a shutout. Wanamaker answered by yielding only two hits, two walks and fanning four. The PSU starter allowed the game's only tally.

As you would expect in a game that featured only six combined hits, there wasn't much offense to report on. Michigan 3B Adam Abraham drove in the lone run. Fetter improved to a conference leading 5-0. Wanamaker's hard luck loss dropped him to 2-3.

Some offense did show up in game two, as Michigan prevailed, 6-3. Nate Recknagel continued his assault on Big Ten pitching by collecting three hits including his ninth homerun of the year. Recknagel also scored three runs. Kevin Cislo had a three hit game, as well. Zach Putnam and Alan Oaks both had a pair of RBI. Michael Powers (3-3) came out of the bullpen to record the win. PSU's Joe Blackburn and Cory Wine had the RBI in the nightcap.

In the lone single contest of the day, Illinois plated four runs in the top of the ninth to beat Indiana, 8-7. Kyle Hudson was 4 for 5 with three runs scored for the Illini. Daniel Webb homered amongst his three hits and drove in two. Brandon Wikoff and Dominic Altobelli both had two RBI. Mike Sterk was credited with the win, his first of 2008, and Ben Reeser pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to post save number four.

Josh Phegley of Indiana was a perfect 5 for 5, scoring twice and driving in two Hoosiers' runs. Kipp Schutz had a three hit game and Jerrud Sabourin had two RBI in the loss.

In Columbus, Ohio State and Minnesota split their Saturday encounters. Kyle Carr allowed seven hits and two walks in shutting out the Buckeyes in game one, 6-0. Carr improved to 2-3 with the win. Kyle Knudson drove in two of the Gophers' tallies and Nate Hanson and Jeff DeSmidt both had a pair of hits for Minnesota. Cory Kovanda, Justin Miller and Michael Arp all had two hits apiece for OSU in the opener.

The Buckeyes took the finale Saturday, 4-1. OSU's Dean Wolosiansky (3-2) gave up six hits, two walks and one earned run en route to tossing the seven-inning complete game win. Tony Kennedy and Cory Rupert both had a pair of hits while Justin Miller, Rupert, Ben Toussant and Dan Burkhart had the RBI. Minnesota's Matt Nohelty had three hits and stole his 12th base of the season.

Michigan State and Northwestern split their twinbill in Evanston. MSU took the first game, 6-1. Spartans' LF Kyle Day had two homers, two runs scored and, not coincidentally, two RBI. MSU SS Johnathon Roof also had two hits and two RBI. Mark Sorenson pitched a seven-inning complete game. Sorenson struck out eight and allowed just two hits and a walk over his seven innings. Nate Roberts had two hits for NU.

Northwestern claimed the second affair, 3-2. Bo Schultz continued today's complete game trend by going the full seven innings for NU. Schultz gave up five hits, a walk and two earned runs. Schultz struck out six and is now 3-3. Jake Goebbert, Chad Noble and Tommy Finn drove in the Wildcat runs. Noble and Nate Roberts, yes, again, had two hits apiece. Chris Roberts had two hits for MSU.

Iowa and Purdue also grabbed a win apiece Saturday. Kurtis Muller and Kevin Hoef went yard in the opener to help lift the Hawkeyes to a 7-6 triumph. Muller had two hits and three RBI. Brock Alberts (3-2) posted the win and Andrew Porter recorded his first save. Dan Black and Jon Moore both had two RBI for Purdue. Brandon Haveman, Ben Wolgamot and Moore all had two hits in the opener.

The Boilers bounced back to take the nightcap, 4-3. Purdue scored once in the sixth to tie, once in the seventh and final frame to win it. Andy Loomis' two innings of one-hit baseball earned him the win. Josh Lindblom worked the seventh inning to get his fifth save. Jordan Comadena's two hits and one RBI led the Purdue offense. Iowa's Kevin Hoef and Kurtis Muller both had two hits and a RBI in the loss.