May 29, 1999
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Michigan pounded out 16 hits against four Creighton pitchers to eliminate the Bluejays 13-5 in a losers’ bracket game of the South Bend Regional in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.
After scoring a single run in the first on a sacrifice fly, Michigan strung together six hits in the third, with six different players knocking in runs in the inning for a 7-0 Wolverine lead.
Creighton rallied for two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. But the Big Ten Tournament champions sealed it with four runs in the seventh — helped by three walks by Creighton pitchers.
Bobby Scales, Jason Alcaraz and Brian Bush each had three hits for Michigan, including a solo home run by Bush to open the eighth. Bryan Besco knocked in three runs for the Wolverines, who saw each of the first eight hitters in their lineup account for at least one RBI.
J.J. Putz went the distance on the mound for Michigan for his seventh win. Creighton catcher David Rowley doubled in both the fifth and sixth innings to score a combined three runs. But the Bluejays left the bases loaded in the fifth and never got closer than the 7-5 Michigan lead after six innings.
Scott Allen and Kenny Sarna also had two hits apiece for the Bluejays, with Sarna also knocking in runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Michigan (33-29) advances to play Saturday night in another elimination game against the loser of the Cal State Fullerton-Notre Dame winners’ bracket game to be played Saturday afternoon. Creighton is finished at 38-25.
CREIGHTON 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 -- 5 10 3 MICHIGAN 1 0 6 0 0 0 4 2 X -- 13 16 2
Dan Gooris, C.J. Keating (4), Chris Ringleb (7), Prentice Lofstedt (8) and David Rowley. J.J. Putz and Mike Seestedt. W-Putz (7-4). L-Gooris (10-7). HR-UM: Bush (6).