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Furman Falls To Michigan 6-3, Out Of NCAA Tournament
June 4, 2005
ATLANTA, GA -Kyle Bohm went 3-for-3, with an RBI, and left-handed pitcher Paul Hammond (4-3) worked 3 2/3 strong innings of relief, to lead third-seeded Michigan (42-18) over fourth-seeded Furman (30-29), 6-3, in the NCAA Atlanta Regional at Russ Chandler Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The loss eliminates the Paladins from the NCAA Tournament while Michigan will now play the loser of Saturday afternoon's winner's bracket contest between Georgia Tech and South Carolina on Sunday at noon.
"We're obviously disappointed that we didn't play as well as we are capable," said Furman head coach Ron Smith. "I don't know if Michigan played real well, either, but you have to give them credit...they got some hits when they needed to down the stretch, and we weren't able to do that.
"From where we were three weeks ago, to end up in a situation where we are playing in a regional and going toe-to-toe with a the number two seed (5-4 loss to Georgia Tech in 10 innings Friday night) and then playing a good game against Michigam, I think our players deserve a lot of credit. I can tell you it was a lot of fun to watch for me, but I can tell you to a player and to a coach we're disappointed that we didn't do well here."
Fuman got back-to-back hits from Spence Gibbs and Nick Wajda to start the ninth innings, but right-handed closer Derek Feldkamp came in to record three consecutive outs to earn his sixth save of the season. U of M's Brad Roblin finished 1-for-3, with two runs batted in, and Leif Mahler went 2-for-3, to pace the Wolverines offensively.
Nine different Furman hitters had base hits for the Paladins, while A.J. Davidiuk went 2-for-3. Right-handed pitcher Ben Hunter (6-4) took the loss for Furman on the hill, throwing three innings in relief, allowing five hits, four earned runs and struck out two.
Michigan's right-handed starter Michael Penn threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, one earned run and struck out two, and Furman's right-handed starter Matt Klinkler tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, no earned runs and fanned two, both earning no decisions for their respective clubs.
The Paladins jumped out in front early with an unearned run in the first and third innings. Andrew Greene scored on a wild pitch in the first and Case Cassedy drove in Nick Wajda in the third inning with two outs to give Furman a 2-0 lead.
The Wolverines responded with two unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly by Roblin and a two-out RBI single up the middle by Bohm to tie the score at 2-2.
U of M threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded and one out, but Furman's Klinkler pitched his way out of the jam with a foul out to second base and a fly out to center field.
The Paladins loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning and the Wolverines removed starting pitcher Michael Penn with a 1-2 count on Cassedy in favor of the U of M's Hammond. Hammond tallied a big strikeout for the Wolverines and induced a fly out to shallow centerfield to keep the scored tied at 2-2.
Matthrew Betsill led off the top of the sixth inning with a double down the left field line for the Paladins and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Joe Daysh made the bunt pay off with an RBI single up the middle to give Furman its second lead of the game, 3-2.
The Wolverines took their
