Big Ten - Michigan's Last Stand?

By Courtney Ratkowiak - May 25, 2007

9th - It's the bottom of the ninth and Michigan is just three outs away from being the second team out of the Big Ten Tournament. The Nittany Lions are still winning, 5-2. Left fielder Derek VanBuskirk, second baseman Kevin Cislo and right fielder Brad Roblin are up this inning - then it's back to the top of the order.

Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" is blaring through the sound system, and it's true - the Wolverines better pray for some big hits this inning if they plan to be around for the 3:35 game.

VanBuskirk hits a ground ball to center, reaching first base. Cislo is up - and he hits a grounder that the Penn State shortstop should have caught, but it went through his legs and ... VanBuskirk is now on second, Cislo is on first. No outs. Roblin is up, and the crowd is getting back into it, clapping in steady rhythm, waiting for this senior playing in what might be his last game at home to do something special.

And it's a wild pitch - both runners advance a base. Roblin hits it to first - he's out - but VanBuskirk scores. One out, and it's 5-3 Penn State. The tying run is now at the plate - leadoff hitter Jason Christian. Christian hits it to second, allowing Cislo to score. Two outs. 5-4, Penn State.

Senior Eric Rose is at the plate. He's a senior, co-captain, and he and Michigan coach Rich Maloney are having a chat before he goes to the batter's box. The count is 2-2. He hits a ball to the shortstop that takes a bad hop, bouncing over the shortshop's head to the wild cheers of the crowd. This is ridiculous - Rose reaches first. Two outs, runner on first, the winning run at the plate.