Big Ten - Fisher Stadium Gets Gloomier

By Courtney Ratkowiak - May 25, 2007

The Wolverines are at bat, and they're again facing a situation that they rarely experienced in the regular season - losing. This team is used to fighting from the start and building on a comfortable lead, not giving up runs at the start and recovering from a deficit.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Michigan center fielder Eric Rose singled to left center and stole second base, adding to his Michigan school record stolen base total. He broke the career record earlier this season at home, and his stolen bases come in handy when he gets in scoring position with two outs. But not this time - Michigan first baseman Nate Recknagel, one of the team's usual power hitters, hits a weak single to first that is the third out. End of the fifth, Penn State is still winning, 4-2.

The fans are already starting to leave - people in blue-and-yellow jackets are exiting the stadium, purses and bags in hand. The small crowd is now even smaller, though the rain has finally stopped and some people are venturing down into the lower, uncovered stands. Yesterday, there was definite fan tension and it was obvious that everyone was waiting for the big hit, the big victory. Today, it's uncharacteristically quiet. It seems like even the fans are starting to give up on their No. 1 seed.