The Wolverine

August 2013

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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the Wolverines lost the game, 2-1, on "At some point, I started thinking a walk-off single in the ninth. But too much," Hill said. "When we got for the coaches and Hill, his outing into Big Ten play, especially against marked a big step. the toughest competition, like InThe next week, the youngster diana and Nebraska, I started to went 52⁄3 innings against Fordham feel the grind. It's a huge transition, in a 10-2 win, the first victory of his worrying about school, baseball and career. everything. I worked through it, and Hill proved he was ready to shoul- I think it made me a better player." der that load and was soon proAgainst the Hoosiers, Hill pitched moted to a weekend starting spot. just 21⁄3 innings, allowing seven runs He became one of the most critical — but Bakich's confidence in his pieces in Michigan's push during young pitcher never wavered. the Big Ten slate. "Evan is a great ballplayer," Ba"That gave me kich said. "He so much motivahad a lot of re Head coach Erik Bakich tion," Hill said. "I sponsibility this on Hill came in with this y e a r, a n d h e coaching staff, "Evan is a great ballplayer. helped solidify but they weren't He had a lot of responsibility our pitching rothe ones who re- this year, and he helped tation. At times, ally brought me when our offense here. When they solidify our pitching rotation." wasn't producing the way we trusted me with so much responsibility, it made me wanted, Evan helped us through it. want to work that much harder, to He's got a great future with us." This summer, Hill is hard at work prove that I belong out there. Coach Bakich expects a lot from his players preparing to come back to Michigan — and I knew if I wasn't perform- and improve upon his rookie success. As a member of the New Enging, someone else would step up." Hill continued to improve, pitch- land Collegiate Baseball League's ing perhaps his best game of the Sanford Mariners, Hill is focusing on season in a 5-1 win over archrival improving his control on his two goMichigan State April 6, part of the to pitches — a fastball and a slider Wolverines' three-game sweep of — while developing a changeup the Spartans. that he hopes to introduce to his arIn that game, Hill went for a sea- senal for the Wolverines next year. "I'm really excited for the future," son-high eight innings, allowing just four hits and one run, while striking Hill said. "With Coach Bakich, I know we're heading in the right diout four. As is the case with most fresh- rection. We have a lot of talent back, men, Hill experienced some ups and and we all want to continue to improve next year." ❑ downs throughout the year.

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