University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Sophomore Jake Fox rounds third and heads for ho plate. Fox batted a .331 average in the 2002 season. Martin 1oet. Athletic Media Relations By Eric Rajala Sprinting down the Home Stretch The Michigan Baseball team swung into action last season amidst a competitive Big Ten field, coming up short of great expectations. Finishing in eighth place in the conference standings, the 2002 season provided a colorful experience to the underclassmen and polished off some fulfilling careers for several seniors. Highlights of the seasons include road trips to California and Texas as well as an exciting home stand against Purdue to end the season. The Wolverines commenced their season in California, participating in the DC-Riverside RBI Tournament. Against competition, the team salvaged only one win during their spring break trip, a 4-2 win against UC-Irvine in which Mike Sokol smacked two RBI singles and freshman reliever Paul Hammond went two scoreless innings to earn his first career save. Starter Tim Leveque persevered through a rough third inning to earn a fine win, striking out six in the process. The outlook brightened for the team during the following week, as they conquered Iowa three games out of four in the first home series of the season. Korecky and Rich Hill hurled shutouts, allowing only two and six hits, respectively. Trzos earned his first win of the season, allowing only one run. Freshman Matt Collins pitched his first career win during a visit to nearby Detroit, one of six pitchers to contribute to a 10-0 shutout. Things soon took a downward turn for the squad, losing three straight in Minnesota before scraping together a gutsy 4-3 win to complete the series. While pitching was the strongest area of the Wolverines last season, the Golden Gophers were able to outduel the Wolverines for the majority of the face-ofts. Later on in the season, the team split four-game series with Illinois and Ohio State but lost splits with Michigan State, Perm State, and Northwestern. The single highest-scoring game for the team came at home against Eastern Michigan: junior shortstop Brock Koman keyed an offensive firestorm, batting in five runs during a 21-7 victory. The season ended dramatically for the Wolverines with a home series against Purdue. Jeff Trzos struck out nine in a complete game victory to conclude his career. The most dramatic win, however, was in the first game of the series. Trailing the favorites 3-2 with two outs in the ninth inning, 1B DH Mike Sokol smashed a walk-off grand slam into right field for a 6-3 upset. Despite the Wolverines winning three of four close games, however, decisions in other Big Ten games kept the team out of the conference playoffs. 134 MlCHIGANENSIAN

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. S i - . - - - - Senior Slefanie Voipe slams the balf into left field fey a T - . . cJouble. Wipe, wtxThac the ability totum a Q,2 tt into s . ted tne team with 1 1 omefui. . -v - -- jnij (Jomtu, Alhktii- Media ' Retatioiu - ' - ' - ...r SPORTS 133

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Helmets bake in the afternoon sun during a game. The average daytime temperature m April last year was 63 degrees. S. Hughes photo Sophomore catcher Jake Fox warms up with his pitcher. In his career best, Fox led the Wolverines in home runs with 1 1 last season. K. Maker photo Pitching agamst the Boilermakers, senior Rich Hill snkes out Brad Kriner. With 1 04 strikes. Hill became just the third Michigan player to throw over 100 kills m one season, Martin VToet, Athletic Media Relations Scoreboard Oregon State L 4-10 San Francisco L 7-9 UC-Riverside L 8-17 Oregon State L 2-13 UC-lrvine W 4-2 UC-Riverside L 7-13 San Diego L 9-12 San Diego L 4-9 San Diego L 2-21 Texas-San Antonio W 7-0 Texas-San Antonio L 2-3 Texas-San Antonio L 2-4 Bowling Green W 4-3 Kansas L 7-9 Oral Roberts L 4-11 Iowa W 3-0 W 6-0 Iowa L 4-7 Iowa W 4-1 Detroit W 10-0 Minnesota L 0-10 Minnesota L 1-3 Minnesota L 2-4 Minnesota W 4-3 Central Michigan W 9-7 Illinois L 0-1 Illinois W 10-0 Illinois W 5-3 Illinois L 11-12 Oakland L 3-17 Michigan State L 0-11 Michigan State L 3-4 Michigan State W 19-4 Michigan State L 3-5 Penn State W 15-4 Penn State L 1-4 Penn State L 2-5 Penn State L 0-1 Notre Dame L 4-7 Eastern Michigan W 21-7 Ohio State L 6-11 Ohio State W 5-4 Ohio State W 1-0 Ohio State L 5-9 Northwestern W 14-6 Northwestern L 1-2 Northwestern L 4-5 Central Michigan L 0-14 misdate W 3-2 Purdue W 6-3 Purdue L 2-3 Purdue W 8-3 Purdue W 7-4 -. SPORTS 135