May 14, 2000

Box Score

Cleveland - J.J. Kotarak went 3-for-3 at the plate, but it was not enough to lead the UWM baseball team as the Panthers lost, 10-4, to Cleveland State on Sunday.

The Panthers fall to 28-22, 12-6 in the MCC. UWM entered the game with a half-game lead over UIC for the MCC regular season title, the Flames, 11-5 before Sunday's games, play two games against Detroit on Sunday.

UWM got on the scoreboard first when it plated three runs in the second inning. With one out in the inning, Todd Ludwig walked and J.J. Kotarak singled. Ludwig scored when Todd Grafenauer reached on a wild pitch. Kotarak scored on a Darin Haugom single and Grafenauer scored on a Steve Tylke single.

Cleveland State countered by scoring one in the bottom of the second inning and two more in the fourth. With two outs and two on in the fourth, freshman Jermey Saline hit a double off the leftfield wall to tie the game, 3-3.

The Vikings added two more in the fifth inning for a 5-3 lead, but Kotarak led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run. CSU responded with four runs in the sixth inning, courtesy of a Keith Lillash grand slam home run. Lillash added a solo blast in the eighth inning for the final score.

UWM starter Mike Oiler pitched five and a third innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs as he fell to 3-5 on the season.

The Panthers next play on Thursday in the MCC Championship. The league office will release tournament brackets on Monday.